China to remain a growing export market for Asian countries: Lee Kuan Yew
( 2003-10-14 00:04) (Agencies)
Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said on Monday that China will
continue to be a growing export market for Asian countries.
Lee made the point when addressing at a special session of the East Asia
Economic Summit, which is being held here on Oct. 12-14.
At the special session called A Conversation with Senior Minister Lee Kuan
Yew, which attracted around 200 government officials, thinkers and industry
leaders in the region, Lee showed some slides to illustrate the growth China has
achieved in recent years in terms of gross domestic products and foreign trade
activities with the rest of the region.
While China has become the "center for final manufacturing" in Asia and
continues to be "a growing export market" for Asian countries, he said, the rest
of Asia is increasingly becoming suppliers of components and raw materials to
China.
Touching on the Taiwan issue, Lee said that although Singapore is willing to
continue its economic relationships with Taiwan, it will not officially
recognize Taiwan as a sovereign entity.
The East Asia Economic Summit, which attracted some 800 participants from all
over the world, is jointly organized by the World Economic Forum, an independent
international organization established in 1971 to provide a collaborative
framework to address global issues, and Singapore's Economic Development Board.
The last Summit was held in Malaysia in 2002.
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