02/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - Last week, China urged its ASEAN partners to make a joint stand against the protectionism of the other regional blocs. "If other countries join regional economic integration, then why should not we?", said Long Yongtu, Deputy Minister for Trade and the Economy, during a meeting with his counterparts of the ten ASEAN member countries, in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. He went on to warn: "If we do not join forces within a free trade area as they do, we will be the victims of trade protectionism by the economic blocs and we shall not come out the winner". China and its ASEAN partners agreed last year to dismantle the essential part of the intra-regional trade barriers in the next ten years. Talks, which are still hesitant, should resume next month in Brunei, at the level of the ASEAN Economy Ministers.