Zhu made his remarks at the opening session of this year's annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia, which started yesterday in Boao.

More than 2,000 people from 48 countries and regions participated in the two-day conference themed "New Century, New Challenge, A New Asia: Economic Development and Cooperation."

Zhu suggested that economic cooperation should be the starting point for cooperation in all fields in Asia.

The premier said cooperation in trade, transportation, agriculture, information technology and energy resources should be given priority.

Zhu urged the expansion of cooperation on the basis of the current channels, saying that sub-regional cooperation should be encouraged to lay a foundation for Pan-Asia cooperation.

Zhu said further development in bilateral cooperation will enhance the basis of regional cooperation.

The premier also said it must be a two-way street.

The call for intensifying cooperation in Asia has simmered since the 1997 Asian financial crisis that crippled economies in many Asian countries. But due to the diversity of countries across Asia, experts said sub-regional cooperation should be the first step towards continental cooperation.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have already embarked on efforts to build a free-trade zone in the next decade.

The economies of China and ASEAN complement each other, and reciprocal cooperation can be conducted in areas such as agricultural produce, Zhu said.

Zhu also said the establishment of the China-ASEAN free trade zone will push the economic development of China and ASEAN countries.

He also voiced China's support for cooperation in other regions in Asia, in addition to that in East Asia.

Zhu's remarks were echoed by his counterparts from Thailand, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

"For so long, the Asian economies have concentrated more on fighting each other in price wars and less on forging Asian unity," Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said.

"We must learn to rely on each other and reinforce both intra and inter-Asian trade. We must stand up and be counted as one in order to turn the world trade regulatory system into a fair regime for all," he said.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stressed the need for reform and cooperation and conveying Asia's message to the world.

ROK Prime Minister Lee Han-dong called for regional cooperation in trade, investment, culture, education and techniques as well as joint efforts to eliminate poverty and ensure stability in the regional financial and exchange markets.

When answering an audience member's question about China's efforts to protect the environment, Zhu said China has put in an unprecedented amount of funds and efforts into environmental protection and to achieve sustainable development.

He cited the reduction of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, saying China will follow the Kyoto Protocol to further reduce the gas.

"China will be responsible not only for itself, but also the world," Zhu said.

(China Daily April 13, 2002)