A PACKED auditorium of up-and-coming leaders from the Chinese Communist Party sat in rapt attention yesterday morning as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shared his thoughts on China's rapid rise on the world stage.
Speaking in Mandarin, Mr Lee told the 680 members of the Central Party School at the closed-door forum that there were three "strategic tasks" that China had to address in the "pursuit of (its) peaceful emergence".
These involve managing its relations with other powers, developing an open regional framework and growing a stake in the international system.
Mr Lee lauded the recent launch of a strategic dialogue between the United States and China, while expressing concern that Japan's history with China might become a stumbling block for future developments.
He also noted that the warming ties between China and India, if maintained, would "completely transform the Asian landscape".
Turning to the 10-nation grouping of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), which is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China, Mr Lee stressed that Asean "favours an open framework for regional cooperation".
Said Mr Lee: "Asean does not want to be exclusively dependant on China, and does not want to be forced to choose sides between China and the US, or China and Japan."
Asean, which recently became China's fourth-largest trading partner, has struck an accord with China aimed at reducing tariffs to under 5 per cent on certain types of goods. Bilateral trade between China and Asean surged 25 per cent to US$59.76 billion ($101 billion) in the first half of this year amid ongoing reductions in tariffs.
Asean is also negotiating an FTA with India, and is looking to deepen its ties with the US, Japan and the European Union.
On the second strategic task of an open regional framework, Mr Lee said: "An open Asian region, in which the US, EU and other countries have a stake, will also help relations between China and other powers.
"If the world is split up into closed blocs or exclusive spheres of influence, rivalry, antagonism and conflict are inevitable."
Towards this goal of an open and inclusive approach, in December, Asean will embark on the first East Asian Summit (EAS), involving India, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Asean's three dialogue partners in North-east Asia — namely, China, Japan and South Korea.
Said Mr Lee: "The EAS, together with existing mechanisms such as the Asean-based forums and Apec (the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), are important components of an open regional architecture which gives all the major powers a stake in Asia.
"Ultimately, Asia stands to gain most from maximising its web of linkages with the rest of the world."
He also noted that as China becomes more interlinked with the rest of the world, it will have to adopt international norms; help tackle global problems such as avian flu; and play an active role in global bodies.
