China News Service, July 5th. According to a report by Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao on the 5th, Singapore’s Honorary State Counsellor Goh Chok Tong pointed out in a speech recently that the Asian region must strive to promote regional mutual trust and cooperation in order to achieve a peaceful and prosperous “Asia”. Century", and China will play a key role in this regard.

He believes that China is focused on improving the quality of life of its people through economic growth, rather than seeking hegemony in Asia or challenging the US's global hegemony.

He emphasized that China's development has played a positive role in Asia and the world.

　　According to reports, Goh Chok Tong delivered a keynote speech at one of the plenary sessions of the Ninth World Peace Forum hosted by Tsinghua University via video on the 4th, proposing three principles to boost regional cooperation in Asia.

First, he proposed that Asian countries should expand the areas of cooperation and reduce the number of areas where disputes occur.

Asian countries should solve problems as amicably and rationally as possible, and compromise with each other as much as possible.

Data map: On April 21, the Boao Forum for Asia 2021 Annual Conference held a sub-forum "Enhance Enterprise Competitiveness".

Photo by China News Agency reporter Luo Yunfei

　　Second, countries should prosper with their neighbors, not beggar their neighbors.

He said in an analogy: "Rather than fighting for a fixed-size cake, it is better to cooperate and work together to make the cake bigger and distribute it equally."

　　Third, he believes that countries should also learn from history and learn from it, instead of being bound by history.

Although these principles are applicable to all countries, in the realpolitik world, the larger and stronger countries, their every move will determine whether Asia can achieve peace and prosperity.

　　According to reports, Goh Chok Tong has visited China many times since 1971 and left a good impression on China.

He believes that China is focused on improving the quality of life of its people through economic growth, rather than seeking hegemony in Asia or challenging the US's global hegemony.

He emphasized that China's development has a positive effect on Asia and the world.

　　When talking about the characteristics of a prosperous Asia, Goh Chok Tong said that both inside and outside Asia, the free circulation of goods, services and investment must be achieved to achieve interconnection.

In the short term, all countries should make sure that the supply chain is not affected as the first priority. They should also work together to build a global digital economy and develop an open and integrated framework for collaboration.

　　Goh Chok Tong also emphasized that countries should promote regional economic integration through multilateral trade agreements.

He said that if China joins the "Comprehensive Progress Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership" (CPTPP), it will signal that China intends to comply with higher standards of free trade and economic integration, and will play a positive role in the prosperity of Asia.

Data map: Caohu National Wetland Park is located at the front of the Badain Jaran Desert and the Mengxin Gobi. It is the largest natural wetland resource in Jiayuguan and an important part of the green ecological barrier of the city and the Hexi Corridor.

Photo by Wei Jianjun

　　A prosperous Asia should also be a "green Asia."

Goh Chok Tong said that as countries try to recover from the new crown epidemic, Asian countries should achieve clean and green reconstruction and realize their common commitment to the Paris Agreement.

　　Finally, he pointed out that Asia must also be innovative and inclusive, and countries should work together to ensure that everyone can benefit from economic development and regional cooperation.

　　Goh Chok Tong said that this century can become an Asian century of peace and prosperity, but the premise is that leaders of Asian countries can look beyond national interests and realize that regional cooperation can further consolidate peace and promote prosperity.

Leaders of all countries must also reach consensus on Asia’s vision and core principles that must be adhered to.

Countries have also come up with new substantive plans and cooperate together.