There is also concern that economic growth and reforms could widen income differentials within countries and the overall region, thereby causing social unrest. East Asia is hoping for sustained growth but there must still be some consideration of the conditions required to ensure expansion. Leaders from Asian countries will therefore be talking about the various challenges they feel must be tackled to achieve sustained growth and will also offer their opinions on the region. Representatives of 13 countries and territories will discuss the following themes. The symposium will offer an in-depth perspective on the situation.
China is now ready to open itself to the international community.
Membership in the World Trade Organization it is likely to win this year would bring China closer to foreign countries in trade and many other fields, and should provide encouragement for the world's most heavily populated country to adopt more features of a market economy. China has taken a fresh line on its Taiwan policy by adopting the idea of a more peaceful unification. It is now pushing for new and positive developments in bilateral relations. A new Japan policy is also in the works, aiming for better relations that put missteps since President Jiang Zemin's visit in 1998 behind both countries. This symposium will look at China's true intentions and activities as they relate to the stabilization of East Asia.