Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Kuala Lumpur Sunday to attend the 9th China-ASEAN and ASEAN Plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit and the first East Asia Summit.

The regional grouping has played an important role in promoting co-operation among East Asian countries. Participants are expecting ASEAN to keep momentum in this regard.

Among the routine meetings, the group will hold its first summit with Russia.

The highlight of the high-level meetings will be the staging of the inaugural East Asia Summit. It gathers not only leaders from ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam but also those from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and the ROK.

All of the meetings are expected to show the grouping's power, vitality and strength.

ASEAN is one of the important institutions that have helped build a broad community base in the region.

What happens in Kuala Lumpur in the next few days will contribute to encouraging the habits of consultation and co-operation in the region. Economic opportunities will be expanded, and a stronger commitment to security be ensured.

Sensible approaches should be found to deal with the challenges we face.

ASEAN is and will continue to be a forum for deliberating and finding approaches to problems. The region is moving towards a shared vision of integration.

The inauguration of the East Asia Summit, joined by some countries from outside the region and hankered after by powers from other continents, is a move that will foster co-operation in a larger East Asian region.

A more peaceful and prosperous East Asia will be built on the consensus of the countries in the region and beyond.

With a good track record in maintaining peace and stability in the region, ASEAN is qualified to act as the key driver of the East Asian community.

The values that the ASEAN stands for, such as peace, co-operation and confidence, are necessary for co-operation in East Asia.

The importance of the ASEAN and the ASEAN plus three (China, Japan and the ROK) should be maintained.

A larger East Asian community, a symbol of open regionalism, will offer a platform for strategic dialogue on important matters.

Before leaving for Kuala Lumpur, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso projected an image of his country as the "thought leader" of Asia, or in Aso's translation, "trailblazer through hands-on practice." Still, Aso defined his country as a "stabilizer."

Japan is expected to play a bigger role in promoting understanding, co-operation and stability among countries in the region. Nevertheless, the label Aso gave to his country falls short of reality.

Japan has sabotaged talks with China and the ROK at the ASEAN meetings thanks to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's non-negotiable homage at the Yasukuni Shrine.

This drives us to discount the picture Aso has painted of his country. How can a country that cannot establish credibility among its neighbors become a leader of Asia?

Strong leadership is needed in any organization. But it must be acceptable to the whole region.
In East Asia, it is not the right time to talk about leadership, but rather unconditional trust, understanding and co-operation.

Japan does not measure up to the requirements of leadership.

(China Daily December 12, 2005)