Thanks Rarebird. It looks like there are plenty of nuggets at that site................
China Sees Asia-Led New World Order
AP Photo TOK104
By MATTHEW PENNINGTON Associated Press Writer
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Growing ties between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are paving the way for a new world order based on Asian values of peaceful coexistence, China's president said Friday.
In a keynote speech on a state visit to Thailand, President Jiang Zemin took a thinly veiled swipe at what he called the ``gunboat diplomacy' and ``economic colonialism' of the United States, which he said were a threat to world peace and international security.
``Both China and ASEAN countries are advocators for a new international order,' the Chinese leader told Thai and Chinese dignitaries at Bangkok's national cultural center. ``Our consensus on strategic issues is increasing.'
He declared that ASEAN -- originally established over three decades ago as an anti-communist bloc -- was ``an important force for peace and development in Asia' that respected the sovereignty of nations.
The Chinese leader's five-day visit, the first by a Beijing head of state here since 1991, is being welcomed as a sign of growing amity between China and Southeast Asia.
Influential Thais have viewed China as a source of stability during the economic crisis of the past two years, and they are increasingly prizing relations with Beijing as a strategic counterweight to the United States.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Referring to the most pressing source of tension between China and ASEAN, Jiang said Beijing was willing to have ``in-depth discussions' with ASEAN nations to safeguard stability in the South China Sea.
Thailand is one of the few ASEAN countries that does not have competing claims with China for the South China Sea's Spratly Islands -- recently a source of tension between Beijing and the Philippines.
Jiang also thanked the group for supporting the Chinese position of ``one country, two systems' in regard to Taiwan. That position was recently challenged by Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui's assertion of statehood, which has prompted sabre-rattling from Beijing.
``There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory,' Jiang stated.
Earlier in the day, Jiang met with Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.
Thailand extended thanks for China's refusal to devalue the yuan. It is feared that that could trigger a fresh round of currency crises in Southeast Asia.
Before his speech, Jiang viewed a rehearsal of the Royal Barge Procession -- a parade of gilded canoes on the Chao Phraya river that will form part of celebrations of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 72nd birthday later this year.
AP-NY-09-03-99 1332EDT
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