NANNING, Sept.

4 (Xinhua) -- China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) discussed the making of a road map for industrial cooperation at an ongoing expo in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Wednesday.

At the China-ASEAN Expo's Roundtable Meeting on Investment Cooperation in Nanning, capital of Guangxi, Chinese and ASEAN officials working in investment exchanged ideas on deepening cooperation in various fields.

The meeting has reached agreement on priority areas of industrial cooperation for next year.

Corazon H. Dichosa, an officer of the Board of Investments of the Philippines, said at the meeting that China and ASEAN member nations complement each other in many industrial areas, and that both sides should help each other "like brothers."

Gao Ge, professor with the Institute of China-ASEAN Research of Guangxi University, said that the road map will greatly boost mutual investments, and that it will bring more benefits for both sides.

The roundtable meeting was part of the 10th China-ASEAN Expo, which opened in Guangxi on Tuesday. News Analysis: Deepened China-ASEAN cooperation to safeguard financial stability English.news.cn 2013-09-05 11:30:11 RSS Feedback Print Copy URL More NANNING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Although some Southeast Asian markets have recently been jolted by global volatility, deepening financial cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could become a mainstay of growth and financial stability, according to economists attending the 10th China-ASEAN expo (CAEXPO).

Speculation of a new round of crises has bloomed since August, with capital outflows and tumbling stock markets in some emerging economies - notably Indonesia - in anticipation of the end of quantitative easing in the United States.

China and ASEAN need various means of cooperation to ensure financial stability, said Chea Chanto, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia on Wednesday. He was speaking at a financial forum on the sidelines of CAEXPO, and is convinced that both sides need to expand such cooperation.

In the CAEXPO keynote speech on Tuesday, Chinese premier Li Keqiang said that China and ASEAN can cope with various difficulties and challenges, but moreover, by joining hands and helping each other, they can ensure steady growth and financial stability in the region.

Li's remarks were designed to shore up the confidence of Asian countries to defuse financial risks, economists said.

Cao Yuanzheng, chief economist with the Bank of China, also attending the forum on financial cooperation and development, said the recent fluctuations of Asian markets represent a chance for China-ASEAN cooperation to grow, especially in international use of the Chinese yuan, or renminbi.

While regulators of these countries exchange information, financial institutions from both sides should also collaborate in financial markets, financial products and ways of financing, according to Cao.

Since the 2008 financial crisis, China has rolled out measures to support regional economic stability, including setting up the China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund. The overall scale of the "Chiang Mai Initiative" multilateralization agreement has expanded to 240 billion U.S. dollars.

China's central bank has signed bilateral local-currency swap agreements with counterparts in Asia that total 1.4 trillion yuan (about 226 billion U.S. dollars), the central bank's deputy governor Yi Gang announced to the forum.

Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday called for a strong, multilayered regional financial safety network and substantial implementation of the bilateral local-currency swap agreements.

China also encourages crossborder trade and investment settlements in local currency and will facilitate ASEAN institutions to invest in Chinese bond markets, Li said.

Han Mingzhi, Chair of the board of supervisors at China Merchants Bank, said promoting settlement in local currency would reduce risks from overdependence on third-party currencies, which is believed to have been central to previous Asian financial crises.

Use of renminbi can improve local financial structure and reduce financial risk for ASEAN members, said Cao Yuanzheng, who still sees plenty of room to improve international use of yuan, especially as a foreign reserve currency and in developing Asian bond markets.

So far among ASEAN countries, only Malaysia and the Philippines have brought yuan into their foreign currency reserve systems.

Bank of Communications' chief economist Lian Ping credits ASEAN members with working out better financial supervision and risk prevention, and is pleased with higher levels of transparency in information disclosure.

"The possibility for the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis to be repeated is low," Lian told Xinhua, adding that a stable Chinese economy and world economic recovery will bring stability to ASEAN economies.

"China-ASEAN financial cooperation is perhaps a greater challenge for China, as it requires a vast, stable internal financial market to back up international use of the yuan," Cao Yuanzheng added.

Xinhua Insight: Li Keqiang vows China-ASEAN "diamond decade" English.news.cn 2013-09-04 04:36:05 RSS Feedback Print Copy URL More NANNING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday China will work Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to build a community of "common destiny" to share peace and prosperity,

Li made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 10th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

"We had the capabilities to create a "golden decade" in the past, we also have the power to create a "diamond decade" in the future," said the premier.

China and the ASEAN should work together to cope with risks and challenges and strive to maintain stable economic operation and healthy development, which are the common interests of all parties, said Li.

"China's good-neighborly policy toward the ASEAN is absolutely not a matter of expediency, but a longterm strategic option of China," said Li.

China is the largest trading partner of the ASEAN, while the ASEAN ranks as China's third-largest trading partner.

This year's expo attracted more than 2,300 companies from China and the ASEAN, consolidating its place as an important platform to promote bilateral trade and relationships between China and the ASEAN.

UPGRADING CHINA-ASEAN FTA

To deepen pragmatic economic cooperation, Li proposed "an upgraded version" of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), adding that the Chinese side will strive to expand bilateral trade to 1 trillion U.S. dollars by 2020 and increase bilateral investment by 150 billion dollars during the next eight years.

Launched in 2010, the CAFTA has become the world's largest free trade area among developing countries, covering a total population of 1.9 billion.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the China-ASEAN expo has become a solid and successful platform for economic and trade exchanges.

The expo has successfully facilitated the construction of the CAFTA under the framework of strategic partnership, and created various bilateral trade and economic opportunities, added ASEAN SecretaryGeneral Le Luong Minh.

Bilateral trade between China and the ASEAN amounted to 400.1 billion U.S. dollars last year, nearly six times that of 10 years ago. In the first half of 2013, the bilateral trade surged to 210.56 billion U.S. dollars, representing a 12.2-percent increase year on year.

On Tuesday, Li said that China and the ASEAN could consider holding discussions on further lowering tariffs, and the Chinese side is willing to expand imports from the ASEAN and boost free trade and investment.

China is willing to join hands with the ASEAN to advance talks of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and discuss exchanges and interactions with frameworks such as Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, so as to create an open, inclusive and mutually beneficial climate to "make the two wheels of regional and global trade roll together," according to the premier.

He also proposed that China and the ASEAN deepen cooperation in infrastructure construction and enhance financial cooperation.

DISPUTES WON'T AFFECT CHINA-ASEAN RELATIONS

There exist some disruptive factors that are against stability and development in this region, but they are not the mainstream, Li said, adding that the South China Sea disputes are not an issue between China and the ASEAN, and they should not and will not affect the overall China-ASEAN cooperation.

China has always firmly held that the immediate disputing parties should seek sound solutions through friendly negotiations on the basis of respecting historical facts and international laws, said Li.

Li said that China will firmly prioritize ASEAN member countries in the country's peripheral diplomacy, firmly deepen the strategic partnership with the ASEAN, and cooperate with the ASEAN to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region, including the South China Sea.

"We are facing various new challenges while the China-ASEAN strategic partnership will be conducive to facing and conquering these challenges. I believe that our mutual trust and confidence is unchanged," said Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

China and the ASEAN should work toward a "diamond decade" characterized by mutual benefit and better livelihoods for people, said Xu Ningning, deputy secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Business Council, while commenting on Li's speech.

"China and the ASEAN still have great potential for cooperation, especially in transportation, financial, maritime and other industrial sectors," Xu said.

Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity

Pursuant to the Joint Declaration of the Heads of State/Government of the Association of South East Asian Nations and the People's Republic of China on Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity signed at the Seventh ASEAN-China Summit on 8 October 2003 in Bali, Indonesia, this Plan of Action is formulated to serve as the "master plan" to deepen and broaden ASEAN-China relations and cooperation in a comprehensive and mutually beneficial manner for the next five years (2005-2010) with the view to strengthening the strategic partnership for regional peace, development and prosperity and playing a proactive role to tap the opportunities and meet the challenges of the new millennium.

This Plan of Action will also support the implementation of the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II, signed in Bali on 7 October 2003, leading to an ASEAN Community.

In the light of the above, ASEAN and China will pursue the following joint actions and measures:

1. POLITICAL AND SECURITY COOPERATION

1.1 Regular High-level Contacts, Visits and Interactions

1.1.1 Increase regular high-level bilateral visits and interactions, improve contacts and communications, and promote dialogue on ASEAN-China cooperation and regional and international topics of common interests and concerns, among others, through strengthening existing mechanisms, establishing hotline for communications, using electronic mail for dissemination of information and correspondence, and holding informal meetings to exchange views on various issues.

1.2 Mechanisms for Dialogue and Cooperation

1.2.1 Strengthen the role of the ASEAN-China Senior Officials Consultation (SOC) in assisting the ASEANChina Summit and the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting in providing guidance and strategic direction to further enhance ASEAN-China dialogue relations and cooperation;

1.2.2 Enhance the role of the ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting (JCC), ASEAN-China Working Group on Development Cooperation, and the Senior Economic Officials-Ministry of Commerce of China (SEOM-MOFCOM) Consultations in monitoring, coordinating, and reviewing ASEAN-China dialogue relations, including development cooperation;

1.2.3 Improve coordination and communication among existing ASEAN-China mechanisms at various levels and sectors, including foreign affairs, economics, transport, customs, youth, and prosecutorsgeneral to ensure timely and effective implementation of decisions and initiatives taken at the ASEANChina Summit and other related ministerial and senior officials' meetings;

1.2.4 Explore, if and when necessary and based on mutual consensus, the need for additional mechanisms at appropriate levels in other areas of cooperation such as agriculture, public health, information technology, tourism, environment, quality supervision inspection and quarantine cooperation, public security and law enforcement cooperation; and

1.2.5 Facilitate dialogue, exchanges and cooperation between defence officials of China and ASEAN Member Countries, where appropriate.

1.3 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

1.3.1 Continue to promote the role of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia as a code of conduct for inter-state relations in Southeast Asia; and

1.3.2 Cooperate to urge other ASEAN Dialogue Partners to accede to the Treaty so as to enhance regional peace and security, prosperity, and mutual confidence and trust.

1.4 Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone

1.4.1 China supports ASEAN's efforts towards realising a Southeast Asia Nuclear- Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ) and reaffirms its readiness to sign the Protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty at an early opportunity; and

1.4.2 Cooperate in encouraging all the Nuclear Weapon States to sign the Protocol.

1.5 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea

1.5.1 Implement in an effective way the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DoC) in the South China Sea to maintain regional stability and promote cooperation in the South China Sea;

1.5.2 Convene regular ASEAN-China Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on the realisation of the DoC to provide guidance for and review the implementation of the DoC;

1.5.3 Establish a working group to draw up the guidelines for the implementation of the DoC and to provide recommendations to the ASEAN-China SOM on policy and implementation issues;

1.5.4 Promote joint cooperation and dialogue in areas such as marine scientific research, protection of the marine environment, safety of navigation and communication at sea, search and rescue operation, humane treatment of all persons in danger or distress, fight against transnational crimes as well as cooperation among military officials;

1.5.5 Promote trust and confidence building through cooperative activities, in accordance with the principles of the DoC, in particular, those of consultations and consensus among the concerned Parties in the South China Sea, pending the peaceful settlement of the territorial and jurisdictional issues as stated in the DoC;

1.5.6 Affirm the vision of the DoC state parties to work, on the basis of consensus, on the eventual adoption of a code of conduct in the South China Sea; and

1.5.7 Adhere to the terminologies used in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other instruments of the International Maritime Organisation.

1.6 Cooperation in the Field of Non-traditional Security

1.6.1 Implement measures and activities agreed upon under the Joint Declaration of ASEAN and China Cooperation in the Field of Non-traditional Security Issues signed on 4 November 2002 in Phnom Penh and the ASEAN-China Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Nontraditional Security Issues signed on 10 January 2004 in Bangkok;

1.6.2 Jointly develop the 2005 Work Plan and subsequent annual work plans to implement the ASEANChina MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Non-Traditional Security Issues focusing on substantive activities and projects of mutual interests;

1.6.3 Enhance cooperation in the fight against transnational crimes through existing mechanisms such as the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime and China Consultation, ASEAN-China Cooperative Operations in Response to Dangerous Drugs (ACCORD), ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime and the ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime;

1.6.4 Promote contacts and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and prosecution bodies on criminal justice and relevant legal systems;

1.6.5 Increase personnel exchanges, training programmes and seminars to share best practices and experiences on procedures and law enforcement for concluding bilateral and multilateral agreements on counter-terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, illegal migration, sea piracy, and international economic crimes, and to enhance competence in criminal technology, forensic sciences, immigration, road transport management, and investigation into cyber crimes;

1.6.6 Explore cooperation, where appropriate and in accordance with their national law, in intelligencesharing, investigation and evidence-collection, arresting and escorting criminal suspects and retrieving stolen goods or money;

1.6.7 Promote Alternative Development (AD) as an effective means to prevent and eliminate illicit drugs;

1.6.8 Support joint research between experts and scholars in the field of non-traditional security issues; and

1.6.9 Initiate and support development projects that aim at eradicating poverty and socio-economic disparity and injustices as well as promoting the elevation of standard of living, in particular, of underprivileged groups and people in underdeveloped areas; as transnational crime and terrorism cannot be successfully eliminated without identifying, addressing and eradicating the root causes in order to prevent new recruits to criminal syndicates and terrorist entities.

1.7 Military Exchanges and Cooperation

1.7.1 Promote mutual confidence and trust in defence and military fields with a view to maintaining peace and stability in the region;

1.7.2 Conduct dialogues, consultations and seminars on security and defence issues;

1.7.3 Strengthen cooperation on military personnel training;

1.7.4 Consider observing each other's military exercises and explore the possibility of conducting bilateral or multilateral joint military exercises; and

1.7.5 Explore and enhance cooperation in the field of peacekeeping.

2. ECONOMIC COOPERATION

2.1 ASEAN-China Free Trade Area

2.1.1 Expedite the implementation of the ASEAN-China Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation to liberalise and promote trade in goods and services and create a transparent, liberal and facilitative investment regime;

2.1.2 Fulfil obligations and commitments under the Early Harvest Programme and the ASEAN-China Trade in Goods Agreement and expedite negotiations on Trade in Services and Investment;

2.1.3 Enhance trade, investment and economic cooperation as well as upgrade technical cooperation;

2.1.4 Establish channels of communication with all the stake holders, such as government officials, chamber of commerce and industry, research institutions, think-tanks, etc., for the successful implementation of the Framework Agreement on ASEAN-China Comprehensive Economic Cooperation; and

2.1.5 Strengthen the economic and technical cooperation in the areas of agriculture, information and communication technology, human resource development, investment, Mekong River basin development, Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), and other areas of mutual interest so as to reach the goal of common development and prosperity of China and ASEAN.

2.2 Investment Cooperation

2.2.1 Promote mutual investments by increasing exchanges and mutual understanding among investment authorities, including the private sectors in ASEAN Member Countries and China;

2.2.2 Promote networking and cooperation among governments, business associations, academic institutions and corporations, among others, through promotion fairs on investment policies in China and ASEAN Member Countries and by holding regular ASEAN-China Exposition in Nanning, China, and if or when appropriate in ASEAN;

2.2.3 Promote mutual understanding and cooperation among enterprises in ASEAN Member Countries and China, among others, through the chambers of commerce, the ASEAN-China Business and Investment Summit and the ASEAN-China Business Council;

2.2.4 Encourage enterprises in China to make ASEAN a priority investment destination and vice versa, and create a more conducive and attractive climate for the flow of such investments; and

2.2.5 Strengthen the law enforcement and regulations so as to provide favourable conditions for investments.

2.3 Financial Cooperation

2.3.1 Strengthen economic review and policy dialogue through the ASEAN Plus Three framework, including the development of early warning system and monitoring of short-term capital flows;

2.3.2 Promote closer financial cooperation and greater financial stability in ASEAN Plus Three countries;

2.3.3 Promote dialogues on macro-economic and financial policies in appropriate fora;

2.3.4 Enhance the effectiveness of the Chiang Mai Initiative;

2.3.5 Develop and deepen regional bond markets;

2.3.6 Promote regional financial and monetary integration;

2.3.7 Strengthen human resource development and capacity building in banking and financial sectors, particularly under the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation; and

2.3.8 Enhance cooperation and technical assistance to develop ASEAN-China capital markets.

2.4 Agricultural Cooperation

2.4.1 Continue implementing the MoU between the ASEAN Secretariat and the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China signed on 2 November 2002 in Phnom Penh;

2.4.2 Enhance cooperation on human resources development through training courses, including on agricultural techniques and management;

2.4.3 Establish technology demonstration farms, including the establishment of technology demonstration zones;

2.4.4 Undertake hi-tech exchanges and promote cooperation in various key areas of mutual interest such as hybrid rice and corn, horticultural plants cultivation, bio-technology application, fertiliser, water management, post harvest technology, food security, aquaculture, livestock breeding, organic farming and marsh gas application in the rural areas;

2.4.5 Support economic and trade cooperation through training, seminars, exhibitions, shows and project demonstrations to promote the trade of farm tools, processing machinery and techniques and equipment, agricultural production materials, grains and improved species;

2.4.6 Enhance technical exchanges and cooperation among agricultural experts and agriculture-related enterprises for study, observation, and training in agriculture, fisheries and agriculture-related fields;

2.4.7 Improve agricultural productivity and diversification;

2.4.8 Promote Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) agricultural exchanges and development among GMS member countries, in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB);

2.4.9 Enhance trade and marketability of food, agriculture and forestry products/ commodities between ASEAN and China;

2.4.10 Enhance cooperation to adopt joint approaches, where appropriate, in international and regional issues pertaining to agriculture;

2.4.11 Promote sustainable management of forest resources through enhancing dialogue and cooperation;

2.4.12 Harmonise related protocols on food safety and organise a network of food laboratories in ASEAN and China; and

2.4.13 Build the capacity of farmers and farming community in ICT in ASEAN and China.

2.5 ICT Cooperation

2.5.1 Expedite the implementation of the MoU between ASEAN and China on Cooperation in Information and Communications Technology signed in October 2003 in Bali, Indonesia;

2.5.2 Promote the establishment and development of ASEAN-China broadband high-speed optical fibre network and information flow and the application of new technology in the region;

2.5.3 Promote HRD cooperation through various training courses, seminars, workshops as well as exchange of visits among ICT experts;

2.5.4 Establish the ASEAN-China ICT cooperation website;

2.5.5 Explore the possibility of convening ASEAN-China ICT Ministers' Meeting to foster ICT policy dialogues and cooperation;

2.5.6 Convene "ASEAN-China ICT Week" on a regular basis to promote ICT cooperation;

2.5.7 Formulate cooperative and emergency response procedures for purposes of maintaining and enhancing cybersecurity, and preventing and combating cybercrime; and

2.5.8 Strengthen cooperation in research and development and transfer of technology.

2.6 Transport Cooperation

2.6.1 Conclude MoU between ASEAN-China on Transport Cooperation and implement the measures and activities contained in the MoU;

2.6.2 Formalise a consultation mechanism for maritime transport cooperation under the ASEAN-China Transport Ministers' Meeting in close coordination with other related ASEAN fora and carry out mutually beneficial projects in such areas as maritime safety and security, search and rescue at sea, marine environmental protection against pollution from ships, ship ballast water management, port state control and international shipping;

2.6.3 Work towards developing and signing a ASEAN-China regional maritime transport cooperation framework agreement;

2.6.4 Support the development of the Asian Highway Network by taking measures such as establishing routes databases, harmonising technical standards of infrastructure and facilities and facilitating international land transport;

2.6.5 Complete Kunming-Bangkok highway by the end of 2007; and

2.6.6 Strengthen capacity building in port management, navigation channel technology, transportation infrastructure design and construction and other areas of common interest in the transport sector.

2.7 Tourism Cooperation

2.7.1 Explore the possibility of establishing a high-level cooperation mechanism between relevant tourism authorities;

2.7.2 Promote better understanding of each other's tourism industry, policies, laws and regulations, among others, through workshops, exhibitions, and shows;

2.7.3 Promote and strengthen tourism information exchange and cooperation on regulating tourism markets among national tourism organisations covering areas such as tourism products, policies, laws and regulations;

2.7.4 Encourage flows of tourists and attract more foreign visitors through joint promotion campaigns;

2.7.5 Promote networking and training programmes among ASEAN and China tourism schools and colleges;

2.7.6 Jointly formulate tourism development plans incorporating joint promotion, marketing, investment and human resource development;

2.7.7 Support the organisation and implementation of ASEAN tourism investment road shows and seminars;

2.7.8 Encourage each other participation in International Tourism Fair in China and the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum;

2.7.9 Enhance cooperation on rectifying tourism business operators and standardising outbound travels and border tours; and

2.7.10 Encourage participation in the capacity-building activities provided by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO).

2.8 Energy Cooperation

2.8.1 Explore the possibility of establishing a high-level cooperation mechanism between relevant energy authorities;

2.8.2 Strengthen policy exchanges and communication with a view to promoting greater openness, transparency, and cooperation in energy security and sustainable energy development activities;

2.8.3 Enhance cooperation in the development and production of renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation, clean coal technology and energy policy and planning, as well as in the establishment of institutional linkages for developing other programs of cooperation;

2.8.4 Strengthen energy cooperation and encourage greater private-sector participation and investment in joint energy resource exploration and development;

2.8.5 Cooperate in the promotion of energy conservation and the development of clean and efficient energy resources in efforts to diversify sources of primary energy supply while preserving a balance between energy production, consumption and environmental protection;

2.8.6 Establish a sound and commercially viable regional energy transportation network through mutually beneficial activities and investments including the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, development of gas pipeline and transport infrastructure, and other supply facilities; and

2.8.7 Encourage exchange of information on energy pricing and market stabilising initiatives to better manage the risks of international oil market volatility, on voluntary basis.

2.9 Mekong River Basin Development Cooperation

2.9.1 Strengthen cooperation under the framework of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC); and

2.9.2 Develop the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link.

2.9.1.1 Transportation

2.9.1.1.1 Build railways and roads from Kunming to Yangon and Myitikyina;

2.9.1.1.2 Improve the roads from China's Yunnan province to Viet Nam and the railway links between China and Viet Nam;

2.9.1.1.3 Carry out possibility study of building railway links from China to Laos and Myanmar;

2.9.1.1.4 Consider implementing measures to improve navigational safety on the Lancang-Mekong River in a sustainable manner through consultations among the riparian countries, while undertaking to preserve the environment and unique way of life of the people who live along the river;

2.9.1.1.5 Consider the further expansion of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the navigation channel improvement project on the upper Mekong River, and share information with the lower Basin countries;

2.9.1.1.6 Consider the possibility to open more aviation routes in the sub-region at an appropriate time; and

2.9.1.1.7 Carry out preliminary study on the missing rail link between Phnom Penh and Loc Ninh, the missing section in Cambodia which is part of the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link.

2.9.1.2 ICT

2.9.1.2.1 Promote international cooperation in terms of investment and human resources development on ICT; and

2.9.1.2.2 Explore the possibility of establishing a GMS information highway.

2.9.1.3 Trade

2.9.1.3.1 Launch the experimental project of one stop inspection under the Agreement for Facilitation of Cross Border Movement of Goods and People between and among GMS Countries whose modalities are subject to consultation and consensus among countries concerned so as to facilitate trade; and

2.9.1.3.2 Explore the possibility study of setting up commodity markets in major border cities and other distribution centres in ASEAN and China.

2.9.1.4 Tourism

2.9.1.4.1 Explore the possibility of establishing a regional tourism corridor with a view to making tourism a key industry in the region.

2.9.1.5 Electrification

2.9.1.5.1 Implement the GMS Inter-Governmental Agreement on Regional Power Trade (IGA) and speed up the formulation of Sub-region Power Trade Operating Agreement (PTOA);

2.9.1.5.2 Promote GMS transnational electric power networking conducive to environmental and social well-being; and

2.9.1.5.3 Enhance cooperation on rural electrification.

2.9.1.6 Environmental Protection

2.9.1.6.1 Enhance cooperation on the protection of bio-diversity in the sub-region and explore the possibility of establishing a bio-diversity corridor;

2.9.1.6.2 Promote forestation in Lancang-Mekong River basin and Honghe River basin to bring soil erosion under control;

2.9.1.6.3 Work towards managing and monitoring water quality of Mekong river;

2.9.1.6.4 Establish nature reserves to protect rare species, among others, through the mechanism of the relevant environmental instruments, such as the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and the ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks;

2.9.1.6.5 Continue to protect the environment and promote sustainable use including the equitable access and benefit sharing of the sub-region's shared natural resources and their biodiversity;

2.9.1.6.6 Promote exchange of information and strengthen cooperation concerning the use of water in the Lancang-Mekong River, with a view to achieve sustainable development of all riparian countries; and

2.9.1.6.7 Promote cooperative activities to address global warming.

2.9.1.7 Public Health

2.9.1.7.1 Establish an integrated prevention and control system for communicable and noncommunicable diseases;

2.9.1.7.2 Promote Alternative Development (AD) to check drug production and distribution; and

2.9.1.7.3 Strengthen cooperation to prevent production and spread of counterfeit drugs.

2.9.2 Other Sub-regional Initiatives

2.9.2.1 Support other sub-regional development initiatives and welcome Ayeyawady-Chao PhrayaMekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) as further means to narrow the development gap.

2.10 Initiative for ASEAN Integration

2.10.1 China will intensify support for the ASEAN's integration efforts by implementing Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) projects and providing technical assistance for projects developed to implement the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) and other related ASEAN action programmes, including human resource development and capacity building for the least developing countries (LDC) of ASEAN and pockets of underdevelopment in the ASEAN-6 countries; and

2.10.2 China will support ASEAN's efforts to narrowing the development gaps within ASEAN and between ASEAN and China by enhancing regional and sub-regional development.

2.11 Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)

2.11.1 Explore the possibility of establishing a regular dialogue between BIMP-EAGA Secretariat and China;

2.11.2 Strengthen cooperation in the priority sectors identified for BIMP-EAGA development, namely SMEs, agriculture, transport, infrastructure and ICT, natural resources, and tourism;

2.11.3 Cooperate in resource development through direct investment, project-contracting and technology-sharing;

2.11.4 Increase dialogue between the East Asian Business Council (EABC) and relevant associations in China (i.e., China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, its quasi-government business chamber), apart from government-to-government dialogue, to strengthen coordination and synergise links among the private sectors of China and EAGA;

2.11.5 Promote and support the efforts of the BIMP-EAGA and the East Asian Business Council to expand mutual trade and investments between BIMP-EAGA and China; and

2.11.6 Provide opportunities for possible technical and capital assistance for BIMP-EAGA programs and projects.

2.12 SMEs Cooperation

2.12.1 Explore the possibility of establishing a SMEs Joint Committee to discuss issues and promote cooperation related to SMEs;

2.12.2 Jointly identify possible areas of cooperation, including promotion of business collaboration, investment and finance, and marketing development, capacity building for SMEs, business matching, and exchange of information on SMEs policies and best practices through seminars, workshops, networking, research and development for SMEs, and promotion of industrial clustering between SMEs of both sides; and

2.12.3 Promote programmes for enhancing ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprise and Industries' capacity, technology, financing, business opportunities and market access.

2.13 Industrial Cooperation

2.13.1 Strengthen cooperation in HRD and exchange of experience in the formulation of plans and models of local industries.

3. FUNCTIONAL COOPERATION

3.1 Public Health Cooperation

3.1.1 Establish regional epidemiological and laboratory networks based on existing national and regional institutions and designate key epidemiological centres and laboratories for disease monitoring to ensure effective and efficient disease surveillance and response;

3.1.2 Enhance regional, and inter-regional cooperation in order to jointly control and prevent communicable and non-communicable diseases;

3.1.3 Establish mechanisms on early notification, control and monitoring of infectious and emerging diseases such as, but not limited to, SARS, avian flu, plague, cholera and HIV/AIDS;

3.1.4 Strengthen technology exchanges and training activities and health human resources development through seminars and the establishment of training bases;

3.1.5 Exchange experts, knowledge and best practices for the establishment of communicable diseases monitoring systems;

3.1.6 Consider the establishment of a cooperation mechanism on health quarantine;

3.1.7 Establish joint testing and control mechanism for the prevention of transnational transport of bioterrorist factors as well as nuclear and radioactive materials for non-peaceful activities;

3.1.8 Enhance regional, inter-regional cooperation to jointly resolve and prevent immediate public health problems and other infectious diseases;

3.1.9 Exchange experts for promotion and development of traditional and alternative medicines; and

3.1.10 Promote exchange of information in incorporating traditional medicine/ complimentary and alternative medicine (TM/CAM) into national healthcare system.

3.2 Science and Technology Cooperation

3.2.1 Strengthen cooperation in implementing HRD and joint research and development activities in the areas identified by the ASEAN-China Joint Science and Technology Committee (JSTC), including biotechnology, remote sensing, seismology, food, marine science, non-conventional energy and materials science and technology, and other new areas which are mutually beneficial;

3.2.2 Implement joint scientific research and technology development activities among research institutions in ASEAN and China in the areas identified by the JSTC;

3.2.3 Organise various scientific workshops and seminars in China, specifically for CLMV countries or other ASEAN countries, which are technologically less developed on applicable technologies;

3.2.4 Strengthen cooperation among technology-oriented SMEs of ASEAN and China;

3.2.5 Organise exhibition on technological innovation by China-ASEAN SMEs during China-ASEAN Expo; and

3.2.6 Explore cooperation in space technology applications and meteorology.

3.3 Education Cooperation

3.3.1 Continue to implement the ASEAN-China Academic Cooperation and Exchange Programme between ASEAN University Network (AUN) and Chinese Ministry of Education (CME);

3.3.2 Carry out joint research and training and exchange outstanding professors, teachers and students with the ASEAN University Network (AUN) as the platform;

3.3.3 Promote teaching of each other's language in China and ASEAN Member Countries and encourage more students to study in each other's universities;

3.3.4 Encourage and support inter-collegiate exchanges and cooperation;

3.3.5 Promote mutual recognition of academic degrees among interested universities in ASEAN and China;

3.3.6 Facilitate the establishment of a directly linked university website between China Education and Research Network (CERNET) and AUN;

3.3.7 Consider establishing a civil servant training and exchange mechanism between China and ASEAN countries, including diplomats training;

3.3.8 Continue to provide additional scholarships for short and long-terms to ASEAN Member Countries, especially to the less developing countries;

3.3.9 Encourage participation in educational exhibition or road shows between ASEAN and China universities to create awareness and disseminate information about the universities in the respective countries; and

3.3.10 Facilitate visa procedure for Chinese students and faculties who travel to ASEAN Member Countries for academic purposes and vice versa.

3.4 Culture Cooperation

3.4.1 Expedite the formulating of implementation plans after the signing of the ASEAN-China MOU on Cultural Cooperation;

3.4.2 Conduct active exchanges and cooperation in literature, the performing arts, visual arts, art education and cultural industry;

3.4.3 Encourage and support cooperation between departments of historical relics, archaeology and cultural heritage preservation, museums, archives, libraries, and cultural institutes;

3.4.4 Strengthen coordination and communication between and among cultural departments of national governments and encourage non-governmental cultural and art groups to engage in multilateral cultural exchanges;

3.4.5 Step up cooperation to explore market for cultural products and vigorously develop cultural industry;

3.4.6 Support each other on hosting high-profile cultural and art events;

3.4.7 Jointly preserve and promote national traditional festivals;

3.4.8 Encourage and support sports exchanges and cooperation; and

3.4.9 Promote socio-culture cooperation by commencing the development of SMCE and sharing experiences in the field of socio-culture on theme "One Village One product" and in the field of Development of Cultural Mapping.

3.5 Labour and Social Security Cooperation

3.5.1 Exchange information, through seminars or workshops, on labour market promotion with a view to formulating policies and regulations on labour flow in the future;

3.5.2 Exchange information and share experiences on labour laws and regulations with a view to promoting and enhancing the labour standards and the well-being of workers from ASEAN and China;

3.5.3 Strengthen exchanges and cooperation in human resources development with China's assistance to ASEAN for training courses, study-tours and seminars; and

3.5.4 Strengthen cooperation in the development of social security systems with China's support in providing professional training for social insurance personnel from ASEAN Member Countries.

3.6 Human Resources Development (HRD) Cooperation

3.6.1 Continue the promotion of HRD cooperation through the implementation of HRD programmes benefiting participants from both sides;

3.6.2 Strengthen HRD cooperation in the five priority areas under the ASEAN-China cooperation and other new and emerging areas of cooperation in ASEAN, among others, through training courses, study tours and seminars; and

3.6.3 Encourage private sector participation in the human resource development process.

3.7 Local Government Cooperation and People-to-People Exchanges

3.7.1 Exchanges Between Local Governments

3.7.1.1 Facilitate provinces/cities to become sister provinces/cities and to encourage governors and mayors to conduct dialogue and exchanges;

3.7.1.2 Hold experience-sharing meetings and seminars for local governments in urban planning, administration and external cooperation through, among others, the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities Programme; and

3.7.1.3 Support local governments' participation in the multilateral cooperation activities.

3.7.2 Non-governmental Exchanges and People-to-People Interaction

3.7.2.1 Explore the possibility of establishing exchanges and cooperation through the China-ASEAN Association and other non-governmental friendship institutions in various fields.

3.7.3 Youth Exchanges

3.7.3.1 Exchange volunteers in medical service and language teaching;

3.7.3.2 Continue the Lancang-Mekong River Youth Friendship Voyage;

3.7.3.3 Explore the possibility of establishing a ASEAN-China Young Entrepreneurs Forum;

3.7.3.4 Organise activities, such as ASEAN-China Youth Festival of Culture and Arts and ASEAN-China Youth Leadership Exchange Programme and support other cultural immersion programmes, including the existing annual ASEAN Youth Camps, and other activities for young leaders, outstanding youths and future leaders;

3.7.3.5 Establish link between the Youth ASEAN and All China Youth Federation websites;

3.7.3.6 Implement ASEAN-China Exchange Programmes for Young Managers and Entrepreneurs;

3.7.3.7 Consider organising annually ASEAN-China Young Leaders Forum to address topics such as economy, trade, human resource development, information and communication technology, education, environmental protection, agriculture and volunteers services; and

3.7.3.8 Consider holding ASEAN Young Leaders' Advanced Study class on a regular basis starting from September 2005 at the Guangxi International Young Exchange Institute of China.

3.8 Environmental Cooperation

3.8.1 Strengthen existing ministerial and senior officials consultations (ASEAN Plus Three Environment Ministerial Meetings and ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials Meetings on the Environment) to implement identified-priority and potential areas of cooperation;

3.8.2 Convene, if necessary, a ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting on Environment for policy dialogue, and establish a ASEAN-China joint committee for environmental protection to formulate work plans;

3.8.3 Strengthen cooperation in the ten agreed priority areas of cooperation under the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation;

3.8.4 Promote exchanges and cooperation between non-governmental environmental organisations and the general public; and

3.8.5 Explore the establishment of an ASEAN-China Environment Information Network.

3.9 Media Cooperation

3.9.1 Explore the possibility of setting up a press officials' dialogue mechanism for communication and exchange on news reporting and media policies;

3.9.2 Continue to implement the ASEAN-China Seminar on Mass Media Cooperation and share the experience of the development of media industry as well as promote media cooperation;

3.9.3 Co-host film and TV festivals in ASEAN and China;

3.9.4 Promote mutual visits and exchanges of journalists and strengthen cooperation in news reporting, press interviews and production of TV programmes;

3.9.5 Cooperate in making films and production of TV programmes, and promote exchanges of programmes;

3.9.6 Facilitate market access of audio-visual products through dialogue and consultations;

3.9.7 Undertake personnel training for the technicians and professionals in the TV and broadcasting sectors of ASEAN countries;

3.9.8 Advance and reinforce a positive international image of ASEAN and China relations supportive of the interests, policies, programmes and goals of both ASEAN and China through responsible news reporting; and

3.9.9 Establish a workshop on Enhancing ASEAN-China Cooperation through Information and Media.

4. COOPERATION IN INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL FORA

4.1 East Asia Cooperation

4.1.1 Strengthen East Asia cooperation by implementing the short-term, and medium and long-term measures of the East Asia Study Group (EASG) and enhancing functional cooperation in the various agreed sectors within the ASEAN Plus Three framework;

4.1.2 Carry out a joint study on the establishment of an East Asian community and the feasibility of an East Asia Free Trade Area within the ASEAN Plus Three framework;

4.1.3 Strengthen coordination and cooperation between ASEAN and China to further the ASEAN Plus Three process; and

4.1.4 Cooperate in promoting the interests and addressing the challenges facing ASEAN Plus Three Countries and East Asia through fora such as the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, East Asia Forum, Network of East Asia Think Tanks, and other related meetings, including the proposed East Asia Summit.

4.2 Inter-regional Cooperation

4.2.1 Maintain close coordination and cooperation in the ARF and promote its healthy development. China supports ASEAN as the major driving force in ARF and its efforts to advance the ARF process at a pace comfortable to all;

4.2.2 Promote the ACD process through cooperation on energy, agriculture, finance as well as other fields;

4.2.3 Promote coordination and cooperation in fora such as APEC and the Asia-Europe Meeting; and

4.2.4 Promote South-South cooperation through mechanisms such as Forum of East Asia and Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) and Asia-Africa Sub-Regional Organisation Conference (AASROC).

4.3 Cooperation in the UN

4.3.1 Strengthen dialogue and cooperation on issues of mutual interest, such as UN reforms, counterterrorism, development and other issues; and

4.3.2 Enhance closer coordination and hold regular meetings between the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member Countries and China in the UN.

4.4 Cooperation within the World Trade Organisation (WTO)

4.4.1 Make efforts to push for the completion of the negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) with a view to achieving a well balanced and equitable outcome as stipulated in the July 2004 package;

4.4.2 Make the existing Special and Differential Treatment (S&D) as well as Less-than-Full-Reciprocity principle more precise, effective and operational to provide opportunity for developing members to participate more actively and enable them to derive benefit from trade liberalisation;

4.4.3 Support and work towards expanding technical assistance and help on capacity-building for developing countries;

4.4.4 Strengthen cooperation in the multilateral trading system, especially the WTO, to make it more responsive to the priorities of the developing countries;

4.4.5 Effectively address particular concerns of developing and less developed members through specific flexibility provision; and

4.4.6 Support the accession of Laos and Viet Nam to the WTO at the earliest possible time.

5. FUNDING

5.1 The activities mentioned in this Plan of Action will mainly be funded by ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund (ACCF) while cooperation in public health will be funded by the ASEAN-China Public Health Cooperation Fund. Where possible, physical infrastructure and related projects will be supported by the Government of China to the best of its capacity, and where feasible, by the Governments of ASEAN Member Countries.

5.2 The Chinese Government will contribute US$ 5 million to the ACCF for five years (2005-2010) to implement the various activities and projects under this Plan of Action. If necessary, China will consider replenishing the ACCF to ensure smooth implementation of activities and projects under this Plan;

5.3 ASEAN and China will encourage international financial institutions/ agencies, development partners and their respective private sectors to participate in the implementation of major projects of interest to them under this Plan of Action; and

5.4 ASEAN and China will continue to strengthen existing funding mechanisms and look into providing requisite resources in accordance with their respective capacities as well as explore effective and innovative resource mobilisation strategies for mobilising resources for the effective implementation of this Plan.

6. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

6.1 Concerned sectoral bodies in ASEAN and agencies in China will jointly draw up specific work programmes/projects to implement the various actions and measures outlined in this Plan of Action with the assistance of the ASEAN Secretariat. Experts from ASEAN and China could be invited, on a caseby-case basis, to develop specific work programmes and project proposals;

6.2 China will provide technical support to the ASEAN Secretariat in coordinating and implementing this Plan;

6.3 Regular review of this Plan will be conducted through existing mechanisms, such as the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting, ASEAN-China SOC, ASEAN-China JCC, SEOM-MOFCOM Consultations, ASEAN-China Working Group on Development Cooperation to ensure the Plan remains relevant to the needs and priorities of the ASEAN-China dialogue relations and to incorporate new and urgent areas of cooperation given the dynamic regional and international environment; and

6.4 Upon completion of this Plan, the ASEAN-China JCC with the assistance of the SEOM-MOFCOM Consultations and under the supervision of the ASEAN-China SOC will prepare a new five-year Plan of Action for the consideration and adoption of the ASEAN-China Summit through the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting.

China and ASEAN: Cooperation or conflict?

Simon Tay, Singapore | Opinion | Wed, August 14 2013, 12:43 PM Opinion News Education in 2014: Torward neoliberal urbanism Correction Jakarta developments in 2014 Rising tensions in the South China Sea have changed recent ASEAN-China relations from cooperation to potential conflict. Yet there is now agreement to begin consultations on a Code of Conduct to manage the issue. Since his appointment, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also visibly upgraded ASEAN engagement.

Marking the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership, a recent High Level Forum proceeded positively with high officials and think tank experts from both sides. Is there substance beneath the ceremonies? Are relations turning more positive?

This wont be the first time to patch over difficulties. The Chinese Communist Partys post WWII support for communist movements in the region meant that diplomatic relations were not normalized until 1991. By 1995, the Mischief reef incident triggered differences then as now over the South China Sea.

China responded however not with aggression but a charm offensive. The bold suggestion of a free trade agreement not only created Asias largest market. Beijings offer to give an early harvest of preferences showed empathy to the anxieties of smaller neighbors.

China emerged as the ASEANs largest trade partner and closest collaborator. A longer arc across centuries shows that civilizational connections across the sea and land have been largely positive and peaceful.

Yet history can only do so much for present problems. While the ASEAN-China forum hosted by Thailand was largely positive, other voices and events intrude.

The Philippines and Vietnam are pushing for full negotiations on the Code of Conduct and not a more cautious consultation. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi responded to caution against rushing. There may be a point in managing expectations the preceding Declaration of Conduct, after all, took the better part of a decade.

But there are more pressures today. Manila recently bolstered its navy by accepting a Hamilton-class cutter from the USA and Washington DC has said it will push China to speed up negotiations. Japan with differences with China over islands further north unveiled a naval vessel that can carry and deploy helicopters, its largest since WWII.

For China itself, military modernization and spending continues apace. Nationalistic netizens will complain if their leaders seem too soft. If conflict is to be headed off, consultations on the South China Sea must move ahead and show sufficient progress. In parallel, cooperation on navigation safety and the marine environment should progress. Most importantly, actual practices by military and other agencies in everyday exchange must emphasize prudence.

Otherwise, the best days for neighborly cooperation are past and all should prepare for rising competition rises and possible conflict. This can be further complicated by Japan and the USA, two other major partners who have given ASEAN more attention of late.

There are issues beyond the South China Sea that both can work on together. There is need, for instance, for infrastructure and investment to connect between the two.

Yet even positive steps will not be easy. The China of the 1990s has grown into a giant and the asymmetry of size and power makes many in ASEAN nervous.

To ease the way China must demonstrate a degree of magnanimity to assist ASEAN especially the developing countries on its borders without expecting to dominate them.

For ASEAN, there must be wisdom to cooperate with China, while adroitly working with other major powers.

This will be critical to two upcoming ASEAN-led efforts the East Asia Summit and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The Summit, to be hosted by Brunei, aims for a candid dialogue that helps build strategic trust in the Asia-Pacific. But it can only succeed if all powers are equally welcome and participative.

The RCEP similarly hubs around ASEAN and will bring in all of Asia including India and Australia-New Zealand. It can only boost economic integration across the region if major economies show commitment.

In the wake of the regions crisis of 1997, Asian cooperation grew, and the ASEAN-China were key actors. The two must again see their cooperation as essential, rather than optional. Otherwise, Asias regionalism will falter.

The alternative is that security will continue to depend on the American alliance system, while the USled Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for economic and trade integration will take center stage. This can negatively impact China and many ASEAN members that currently stand outside the TPP.

China may have differences with ASEAN and vice-versa. But if Asians are to come together as a region, dealing with current problems and upgrading ASEAN-China cooperation will be essential.

The writer is chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and was invited to speak at the recent High Level ASEAN-China Forum held by the Thai government.

ASEAN power and China

For the ASEAN countries, being surrounded by the big powers is an unalterable geographical reality. At the same time, ASEAN can change or shape its strategic environment. ASEAN can co-dance harmoniously with the big powers by relying on the concerted efforts from within together with the international situation, as well as via creating and implementing both the strategy of check and balance among those powers and the strategy of East Asia cooperation. As a result, a regional new order can be established that features peace and prosperity. Along this course, China can offer help and support to ASEAN to fulfil its goals and resolve its problems, so as to achieve a winwin outcome in the region.

Put another way, the success of ASEAN in forging a new security framework to a large extent relies on strategic support from China, which is a firm supporter of ASEAN integration. While some countries seek to dominate the process of East Asian cooperation, China is actively maintaining the leadership status of ASEAN. China was the first big power to negotiate the establishment of FTAs with ASEAN, to join TAC, to establish a strategic partnership with ASEAN, and to bring smile diplomacy to Southeast Asia. It also hopes to become the first to sign the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone. The positive role of China has drawn other counterparts to show their goodwill to ASEAN, which has enabled

the proper performance of the balance strategy and the regional cooperation strategy of ASEAN. With the joint efforts of China and ASEAN, other powers have begun to approach Southeast Asia in a similar manner, so as to achieve cooperation, a winwin outcome, and equality, which is objectively conducive to multipolarity in the region. To help others and to achieve this winwin outcome at the same time, the China-ASEAN relationship has become a good example of how to develop and handle international relationships.

Over the past 15 years, having helped ASEAN tide over the 199798 Asian financial crisis and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, China then attempted to control the H5N1 influenza through joint efforts with ASEAN. Over the next 15 years, the risks confronting ASEAN from modernisation and globalisation will not diminish. For China, the next 15 years will also be a period in which strategic opportunities and protruding contradictions abound. The deepening strategic partnership between China and ASEAN calls for sharing the risks as well as the gains. In the future, the joint mission for the two sides will be how to avoid strategic risks and take economic and social risks under control. In essence, as China helps extricate ASEAN from risks and worries, a winwin outcome for the region can also be achieved.

Judged from the development of bilateral relations between ASEAN and China since the end of the Cold War, China and ASEAN have achieved a winwin relationship. Chinas relations with ASEAN and with ASEANs members respectively have all reached the most positive point in history. The two sides witnessed positive developments simultaneously in many aspects: the coincidence of Chinas rise and ASEANs ascendant status in the international community; and the coincidence of Chinas greater influence and ASEANs more dominant role in the region. In a word, ASEAN and China go forward in tandem. The phrase Strategic Partnership Relationship indicates that Chinas relations with ASEAN as a whole have risen to an unprecedented height, which will not be surpassed by Chinas relations with other regions.

The progress of China-ASEAN relations brings the feelings of stability, sureness and accomplishment to Chinas neighbour policy. This is the first time that such feelings have characterised Chinas relations with Southeast Asia. The benefits from this good relationship are wide-ranging: China can deal with the North Korean problem, China-Japan relations and the Taiwan issue attentively; it can, together with ASEAN, promote the development of East Asia regional cooperation, or even pan-Asian cooperation including Central Asia and South Asia; and it can associate itself with ASEANs strategy of balancing powers in a natural way, and thus reduce the worrisome attitudes of other powers (such as the United States and Japan) toward China. Meanwhile, ASEAN has gained weight and influence from its good relationship with China. For example, China supports the process of integration within ASEAN and its dominant role in the development of East Asian cooperation on the basis that this does not harm the interests of other regions. This kind of relationship is a comparatively stable situation, resulting from

complex interactions in a global context. As a result, there is great rationality and vitality within this relationship.

In view of the above, Chinas future strategy should include the following points. First, China should continue to support ASEANs process of integration, and seek to link it with the three communities within ASEAN, which are still in the construction phase. Second, China should advocate ASEANs dominant role in the development of the East Asia Cooperation, and realise Chinas own strategic interests while helping ASEAN to achieve the ideal regional structure. Third, China should be fully aware that it is only one part of ASEANs strategy of balancing major powers. In future, big powers, such as the United States, Japan, India and Australia will definitely increase their strategic presence in this region. In this circumstance, China should not treat other regional powers as enemies or exclude other big power interests from the region. Rather, China should share its interests with the other big powers in the region.

Bring the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership of Long-term Friendship and Mutually Beneficial Cooperation to a New High

2013/09/03 Remarks by H.E. Li Keqiang Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China At the 10th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit

Nanning, 3 September 2013

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN strategic partnership. It is also the 10th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Expo. In many Eastern countries, major celebrations are to be held on decennial anniversaries. So I am happy to join so many friends here on this festive occasion. We Chinese also say that it takes 10 years to grow a tree. With 10 years of development, the ChinaASEAN strategic partnership has grown into a lush tree and borne rich fruits. Now is the time to harvest and sow seeds for the future. I have full confidence in the future growth of China-ASEAN relations. Let me extend, on behalf of the Chinese government, warm welcome to the guests present and warm congratulations on the successful opening of the China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

Peace and development remain the theme of our world today. China is committed to the path of peaceful development and will actively contribute to regional and global stability and prosperity. Neighboring areas are always a priority in China's diplomacy. The new Chinese government will be firmer in implementing the policy of fostering amicable relationships and partnerships with neighboring countries, work more actively to pursue its development strategy with the development objectives of those countries in mind, and take more solid and effective steps to build a community of common destiny for peace and prosperity.

China and ASEAN enjoy geographical proximity, cultural affinity, a historical bond and closely entwined interests. China is the first non-ASEAN country to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. It is also the first country to establish a strategic partnership with ASEAN and to launch and complete the building of a Free Trade Area (FTA) with ASEAN. Over the past 10 years since the establishment of the strategic partnership, China and ASEAN have respected each other, treated each other as equals, and built good-neighborly relations for mutual benefit. We have strengthened mutual trust, deepened pragmatic cooperation, intensified people-to-people exchanges, and made much headway in our cooperation in all fields, bringing tangible benefits to countries and peoples in the region.

There is no denying that there are still disturbing factors in the region that affect stability and development, but they do not represent the mainstream. On the disputes in the South China Sea, China maintains that consultations should be held by the parties directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law. The Chinese government is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities and is ready to seek a proper settlement through friendly consultations. China believes that the disputes in the South China Sea are not an issue between China and ASEAN, nor should or can

they affect the overall China-ASEAN cooperation. The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) jointly formulated by China and ASEAN countries 10 years ago has effectively safeguarded peace and stability and ensured freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. China will continue to work with ASEAN countries in a responsible manner to fully implement all provisions of the DOC and steadily advance consultations on a code of conduct in the South China Sea in a gradual way within the framework of the DOC.

Here, I wish to make a solemn commitment on behalf of the Chinese government. China's policy of building good-neighborly relations with ASEAN is by no means an expedient measure, but our long-term and consistent strategic choice. China will unswervingly give priority to ASEAN countries in its neighborhood diplomacy, deepen strategic partnership with ASEAN, and work with ASEAN to jointly uphold peace and stability in the region, including the South China Sea. At the same time, we will continue to support ASEAN's development, the ASEAN Community building and ASEAN's centrality in East Asia cooperation. China-ASEAN relations will be defined by long-term friendship and win-win cooperation, living up to the essence of our strategic partnership.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The international situation is undergoing increasingly complicated and profound changes. Developed countries are seeing some positive signs in their economies, and emerging markets and developing countries boast huge potential in expanding markets. These are the favorable factors. On the other hand, the world economy is experiencing deep adjustment and there are many uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the global economic recovery. The underlying impact of the international financial crisis is lingering, and structural problems such as runaway debt, misaligned growth and NorthSouth imbalance remain serious. To address the difficulties and challenges confronting various countries, development is still the ultimate solution.

With almost half of the world population and one third of the global economy, Asia has created a series of growth miracles and has long been one of the most dynamic regions in world economic development, particularly in recent years. Yet we also need to recognize that development among Asian countries is highly uneven, and they face the daunting task of boosting growth and improving people's lives. Due to rising expectation of possible withdrawal of quantitative easing by the developed countries in their monetary policy, especially major reserve currency issuing countries, capital flow has reversed and financial markets have become more volatile in some emerging markets and developing countries. Some Asian countries have been impacted as well and are confronted with multiple challenges of capital outflow, currency devaluation, economic slowdown and rising inflation. This has made people, including

some friendly countries, worry. Under the current circumstances, the major tasks for China and ASEAN are still developing the economy and improving people's livelihood. We should continue to focus on these primary tasks, work in concert to tackle those potential and unpredictable risks and challenges, and maintain steady and sound economic growth. This represents the common interests of all parties and people of all countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thanks to the commitment of successive generations of leaders from all countries, China and ASEAN have traversed an extraordinary path in the past decade. Bilateral trade has increased fivefold, and mutual investment threefold. We have created a "Golden Decade" of cooperation. We took the lead in setting up the biggest FTA among developing countries in the world. This meets the trend of development and has brought real benefits to the people. ASEAN has become China's second biggest trading partner, and our economic links have never been as close as they are today.

China and ASEAN are natural partners for cooperation. We are both at a stage of accelerated industrialization and urbanization, and share similar development goals and tasks. Stronger economic cooperation between us will unleash huge energy. In the past couple of days, ASEAN leaders and I had extensive and in-depth discussions and we reached much important consensus. We all agree that our common interests have kept expanding. We have created the past "Golden Decade", and we are able to build a "Diamond Decade" in the future. We should build on past achievements and seek new strategic breakthroughs at a new historical starting point. On the basis of deeper political mutual trust and an open and inclusive spirit, we need to deepen and upgrade pragmatic cooperation, and push for new progress in our strategic partnership. To this end, I wish to make the following proposals for cooperation:

First, build an upgraded version of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA). The establishment of CAFTA blazed a new trail for trade and investment cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and has greatly boosted the business ties between the two sides. Looking ahead, China will uphold the tradition formed in the past ten years of CAFTA development, actively consider ASEAN's interests and needs on a priority basis, and create more favorable conditions for the development of ASEAN. We are ready to update and expand the content and scope of China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement under the principle of mutual benefit and common development. Our two sides may consider holding in-depth discussions on further lowering tariff and cutting non-tariff measures, actively negotiate a new set of service trade commitments, promote real openness in the investment field by improving market access and personnel interflow and enhance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, so as to keep CAFTA abreast

of the times and build an upgraded version in wider areas with higher quality. We are ready to sign longterm trade agreement with ASEAN on agricultural products, import more marketable and competitive goods from ASEAN, and strive to raise two-way trade to one trillion US dollars by 2020 and increase twoway investment by 150 billion US dollars in the coming eight years. ASEAN is as much a priority in China's outbound investment as it is a priority in our diplomacy in neighboring areas. We also welcome enterprises from ASEAN countries to invest and do business in China.

We also stand ready to work with ASEAN to advance the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations, explore ways for RCEP to interact with other regional cooperation mechanisms such as Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and jointly foster an open, inclusive and win-win environment for cooperation to ensure that the two wheels of regional and global trade arrangements will spin forward together.

Second, promote connectivity. We need to speed up connectivity cooperation in road, rail, waterway, aviation, telecommunications and energy, launch the Pan-Asia Railway network-a major flagship projectas early as possible and push it forward step by step, and make good progress in implementing a number of big projects. China will activate a new round of special loans, make good use of the ChinaASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund, and actively explore with other parties the creation of a financing platform for infrastructure development in Asia to fund major projects. While strengthening "hardware" connection, we also need to move faster at improving the mechanism for implementing the rules of origin and ensure good "software" connection regarding the systems and standards in information, customs clearance and quality inspection to create conditions for gradually building sound infrastructure links in Asia. Our two sides should also expand cooperation in investment and industries and jointly plan for and build a number of green, environment-friendly, smart and efficient industrial parks to bring us closer.

Third, enhance financial cooperation. This is critically important for maintaining regional financial and economic stability. China-ASEAN financial cooperation has made big strides in recent years. The Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization agreement has been expanded to 240 billion US dollars. China is ready to work with ASEAN members to strengthen the multi-tiered regional financial safety net, promote the actual use of bilateral currency swap agreements, encourage local currency settlement for cross-border trade and investment, provide greater facilitation for ASEAN institutions to invest in China's bond markets, and continuously improve regional mechanisms for financial risk early warning and rescue. I am confident that members in this region have the capacity to tackle various difficulties and challenges and, with China and ASEAN working together and helping each other, we will be able to maintain steady economic growth and economic and financial stability in the region.

Fourth, carry out maritime cooperation. This is an important area for the two sides to expand cooperation. China calls for establishing a China-ASEAN maritime partnership. The China-ASEAN Port Cities Cooperation Network will be set up during the Expo. With a three billion yuan China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund in place, we are now studying and promoting a number of cooperation programs with a focus on fishery base development, marine ecology and environment protection, production and trade of sea products, navigation safety and search and rescue, and facilitation of maritime transport. We look forward to ASEAN countries' active participation.

Fifth, increase people-to-people exchange. China proposes that the year 2014 be designated as the China-ASEAN Friendship and Exchange Year. In the next three to five years, China will provide 15,000 government scholarships for ASEAN countries. We will contribute to the Asia Regional Cooperation Fund for deepening cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange. We should give further play to the positive role of China-ASEAN Youth Association and the China-ASEAN Think Tank Network. We also hope our friends from the press will continue to care for and support the growth of China-ASEAN relations and send out more messages of friendship and cooperation to boost confidence. The relationship between China and ASEAN countries is one of mutual help, as helping the other side is also helping oneself. Through mutual assistance, we can achieve win-win outcomes.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me take this opportunity to give you a snapshot of the current Chinese economy. Since the start of this year, confronted with a complex situation of sluggish external market and mounting downward pressure on the economy, we responded in calm in light of the circumstances. We stabilized our macroeconomic policies, timely identified a reasonable range for economic operation, and pursued a scientific macro-economic policy framework. We balanced stabilizing growth with adjusting structure and promoting reform. In doing so, we made systematic plans, and took a holistic approach and targeted measures to release the reform dividends, actively improve the structure, and fully harness the role of market. We have been unswervingly pressing ahead in this direction. Even in times of greater downward pressure, we sticked to reform as a way to solve problems and made structural adjustment to ensure that the economy operates within the reasonable range between the upper and lower limits. These measures, which meet both immediate and long-term needs and steer us away from pitfalls, have begun to pay off. In the first half of this year, the Chinese economy maintained steady growth. Recent statistics show that employment and prices are stable, a good harvest is within reach, and such major indicators as industrial output, import and export and use of foreign investment have rebounded. There is noticeable improvement in market expectation and confidence is strengthening. Still, we must not slacken our efforts or lower our guard. We are keenly aware of the many serious difficulties and challenges ahead, some foreseeable and some not. However, we have the conditions and capacity to complete this year's main tasks in economic and social development, and we are determined to lay a

good foundation for the sustained and sound development of the Chinese economy next year and beyond. China's development will not only benefit the Chinese people, but also bring about more development and market opportunities for ASEAN countries and other countries around the world.

As early as over 2,000 years ago, China and Southeast Asia opened the maritime Silk Road. Today we are adding a new chapter to this historical splendor. The China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit have thrived over the past ten years. I wish they will continue to ride the waves and sail forward. Nanning, the permanent host city of China-ASEAN Expo, means tranquility in the south. For the 1.9 billion intelligent, hard-working and peace-loving people in China and ASEAN countries, tranquility means prosperity and strength. I believe China-ASEAN cooperation for common development will enjoy a brighter future and deliver more fruits that benefit both sides.

To conclude, I wish you all every success and good health during the Expo and Summit and I wish the 10th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit a full success.

Thank you.

The consensuses on deepening mutual trust and concentrating on economic development are the basis for pragmatic cooperation. Facing the uncertainty of China-ASEAN relations brought out by the South China Sea dispute, both China and ASEAN should make it clear that development is their common task at present and in the long run; China-ASEAN relations shouldn't be affected negatively by the dispute.

Drawing experience and lessons from the "golden decade", the first ten years of the strategic partnership, China's new leadership continues to see ASEAN as a priority on its periphery diplomatic agenda, intending to deepen strategic partnership with ASEAN, deal with problems and disputes through friendly consultation and reciprocal cooperation, and support the leading role of ASEAN in East Asia cooperation.

To enrich the concept of "a community of common destiny" raised by President Xi Jinping earlier, Premier Li made seven key recommendations to deepen cooperation over the next decade, which are outlined in seven fields including politics, security, economy, connectivity, finance, maritime affairs and cultural exchanges.

Li proposed an early conclusion of the negotiations on a treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation, an upgraded version of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), and an Asian infrastructure investment bank. Also, he recommended setting up a China-ASEAN defense ministers' meeting, drafting a plan of action for cooperation on disaster relief, and preparing activities for cultural exchanges year in 2014.

Economic and social development issues are considered key fields of functional cooperation, which coordinate with the consensus of concentrating on economic development with ASEAN.

Economic cooperation is a cornerstone in China-ASEAN relationship as always. The upgraded version of the CAFTA will raise bilateral trade to US$1 trillion by 2020, lead to closer economic interdependence between China and Southeast Asia, and spill the cooperation momentum over to other functional areas for more comprehensive cooperation.

Today, realizing inclusive and consistent development is the priority for most countries in Asia. China and ASEAN have common interests in connectivity, environment protection, finance, cultural exchanges and so on.

Cooperation in connectivity is a highlight in the relationship between China and ASEAN. The establishment of an Asian infrastructure investment bank helps to meet ASEAN countries' financial demand for infrastructure, and to build an Asian financial system in the long run.

Beyond the economic and social cooperation, greater efforts will be given to cooperation in the political and strategic field according to Li's speech, and the adjustment is connected with situation in the South China Sea.

After the South China Sea dispute flared up in 2010, China encountered diplomatic pressure in the international community. The dispute also affected China-ASEAN relations and brought up uncertainties

and worries about the prospect of the relationship. To respond to the situation, China's leadership established a new framework for the next decade on the basis of reassessing the surrounding environment, reconsidering its position in the regional order, and reflecting on previous policy.

As the South China Sea dispute is the biggest uncertainty for China-ASEAN relations and the whole region, successfully puttingng disputes under control and maintaining the stability of the region will be decisive in bringing about a "diamond decade" of relations between China and ASEAN.

To put disputes under control, three aspects were highlighted in the measures of the new framework, which reflects China's strategic thinking on this issue.

First, signing a treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation with ASEAN. The treaty creates a legal and institutional framework for the relationship in the future, which will help to constrain both China and ASEAN's behaviors.

Second, pushing forward the process of the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC)" gradually under the framework of implementing the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC)".

Third, seeking joint development in the South China Sea and strengthening maritime cooperation in the fishery industry, energy, natural disaster relief and maritime connectivity.

The author is a research fellow in East Asian Studies Center at China Foreign Affairs University

China-ASEAN cooperation: 1991-2011 Updated: 2011-11-16 08:03

(China Daily) Print 2 Editor's note: The Chinese Foreign Ministry has released a paper on China-ASEAN cooperation. Full text below: Preface Twenty years ago, then Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen attended the 24th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the invitation of the ASEAN side, which marked the beginning of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. Over the past 20 years, with the care of leaders of the two sides and the support of people from all walks of life, China and ASEAN have embarked on a path of cooperation based on good neighborliness, friendship and mutual benefit. The two sides have strengthened political mutual trust and elevated the status of their relationship from dialogue partnership to strategic partnership. The two sides have conducted fruitful economic cooperation and trade, completed the building of free trade area and registered rapid growth in trade and mutual investment. The two sides have established a full range of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, identified 11 priority areas for cooperation, carried out practical cooperation in some 20 fields, and scored remarkable achievements in their friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields. The two sides have also further strengthened their friendship and cooperation in the course of combating the Asian and international financial crises, severe natural disasters, cross-border communicable diseases and other challenges. The comprehensive cooperation between China and ASEAN has not only given a strong boost to their economic and social development and brought tangible benefits to their peoples, but also made important contribution to the peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world at large. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, we have published this brochure to review the history of our friendly exchanges, present the outcomes of our practical collaboration, and aspire for a brighter future of China-ASEAN strategic partnership. I. Politics, Security and Regional Affairs Politics In July 1991, then Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen attended the 24th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which marked the beginning of the dialogue process. In 1996, China became a full dialogue partner of ASEAN. Mail Large Medium Small

In 1997, the two sides worked together to counter the Asian financial crisis. China's commitment to keeping its currency (RMB) stable was widely appreciated by ASEAN countries. In December of the same year, the first informal China-ASEAN Summit was held in Malaysia, during which the two sides agreed to establish a good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust for the 21st century. Then, at the seventh ChinaASEAN Summit in October 2003, the two sides decided to enter into a strategic partnership. In the same year, the Chinese government announced its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. China attaches great importance to and stays committed to deepening good neighborliness, friendship and cooperation with ASEAN. China is the first ASEAN dialogue partner to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the first to establish strategic partnership with ASEAN, the first to unequivocally support the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, and the first to confirm to establish free trade area with ASEAN. China and ASEAN have maintained frequent high-level contacts, and Chinese leaders have attended all the previous China-ASEAN Summits. In 2010, some 70 mutual visits by officials at or above deputyprime-minister level were made between the two sides. These high-level interactions have strengthened the mutual trust between China and ASEAN and laid a solid political foundation for the development of bilateral relations. China and ASEAN have established a full range of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms involving state leaders, ministers and senior officials from both sides. To date, the two sides have held 13 summit meetings and three special summit meetings, and established more than ten ministerial meeting mechanisms in the fields of foreign policy, economy, transportation, customs administrators, attorney generals, youth affairs, health, telecommunication, press, quality inspection and combating transnational crimes. In 2010, following the successful implementation of the first Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity (2005-2010), the two sides formulated the second Action Plan for the period 2011-2015. Security In recent years, the two sides have made continued progress in defense exchanges and cooperation, and conducted a variety of exchange programs within the framework of China-ASEAN bilateral cooperation, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) and ASEAN Plus Three (10+3). China supported the security policy dialogue under the ARF, and hosted the workshop on disaster relief by armed forces, the non-traditional security forum and other events within the 10+3 framework. In 2011, China and ASEAN held the first defense ministers meeting. The Chinese Academy of Military Sciences sponsored two "China-ASEAN Senior Defense Scholars' Dialogue" in 2008 and 2009 on the topics of "military modernization and regional mutual trust" and "security situation in East Asia and China-ASEAN defense cooperation". "China-ASEAN Defense and Security Dialogue", which was launched in 2010, provides an opportunity for in-depth discussions on

regional defense and security issues between defense policy-makers and defense scholars from the two sides. Since 1997, China and ASEAN have been holding biennial ministerial meetings on combating transnational crimes. The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Non-traditional Security Areas was signed in 2004 and renewed in 2010. The two sides have also carried out close cooperation in combating drug trafficking, illegal immigration, piracy, terrorism, arms smuggling, money laundering, international economic and cyber crimes and other transnational crimes. Since 2004, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has staged over 60 training courses and workshops on anti-narcotics law enforcement, criminological technique, maritime law enforcement, criminal case studies, exit-and-entry administration, cyber crime investigation and other subjects, and invited over 1,500 law enforcement officers from ASEAN member countries to China. In particular, from 2006 to 2011, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security organized five training programs for ASEAN law enforcement liaison officers, during which 92 officers from ASEAN countries studied Chinese language and police knowledge in China. China and ASEAN have extended mutual support, and partnered with each other in confronting a series of severe natural disasters and epidemics such as Indian Ocean tsunami, Myanmar cyclone, Wenchuan earthquake, SARS and avian flu. Regional Affairs China and ASEAN have worked closely with each other in advancing East Asia cooperation, and jointly shaped an open and inclusive approach to regional cooperation based on mutual benefit and consensus. The two sides have maintained good cooperation in ARF, 10+3, East Asia Summit (EAS) and other mechanisms, pushed for the publication of the two Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation, facilitated the development of a regional foreign exchange reserve pool, and contributed to the building of free trade area in East Asia. China firmly supports ASEAN in playing a leading role in the East Asia cooperation process. China has consistently supported and actively participated in ASEAN's community building and integration process. As one of the first countries to appoint an ambassador to ASEAN, China opened the ASEAN Affairs Office in Jakarta in 2011, and is making preparations for the establishment of a permanent mission to ASEAN. In November 2002, China and ASEAN countries signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which displayed the shared resolve of the two sides to strengthen China-ASEAN partnership of good-neighborliness and mutual trust and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. In July 2011, China and ASEAN countries agreed on the Guidelines for the implementation of the DOC. II. Economy and Trade, CAFTA and CAEXPO Economy and Trade

China-ASEAN trade has maintained a rapid growth momentum. The volume of bilateral trade jumped from US$7.96 billion in 1991 to US$292.78 billion in 2010, representing a 37-fold increase and an average annual growth of more than 20%. In the first half of 2011, China-ASEAN trade totaled US$171.12 billion, up by 25% year-on-year. China is now already the largest trading partner of ASEAN, while ASEAN the third largest trading partner of China. Two-way investment keeps expanding. As of June 2011, the accumulated amount of mutual investment reached almost US$80 billion. In recent years, China has stepped up its investment in ASEAN countries, and ASEAN is becoming an important destination for overseas investment of Chinese companies. The launch of China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund and China-ASEAN Banking Consortium upon the Chinese proposal has provided an important platform for investment and financing cooperation between the two sides. Economic cooperation and trade between China and ASEAN countries continue to deepen, expanding from trade in goods at the very beginning to trade in services and mutual investment, and to telecommunication, Mekong River development, transportation, energy, culture, tourism and other fields. ASEAN is now already China's fifth largest export market and source of import for trade in services. China-ASEAN Free Trade Area China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) is the most important measure and achievement in China-ASEAN economic cooperation and trade. It is the first free trade area negotiated by China with foreign countries and the largest free trade area among developing countries. In November 2000, then Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji proposed the idea of CAFTA, which was positively responded by the leaders of the ASEAN countries. In November 2002, China and ASEAN signed the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between China and ASEAN, in which they agreed to launch the building of CAFTA and complete the process by 2010. On January 1, 2004, the initial benefit of CAFTA-"Early Harvest Plan"-was materialized as scheduled. In November 2004, the two sides signed the CAFTA Agreement on Trade in Goods and extended comprehensive tariff reduction to each other in July 2005. The two sides also signed the CAFTA Agreement on Trade in Services in January 2007 and the CAFTA Agreement on Investment in 2009. In January 2010, CAFTA was established as scheduled, and zero tariff treatment was provided for more than 90% of the products exchanged between China and ASEAN. China's average tariff rate for ASEAN dropped from 9.8% to 0.1%, while the average tariff rate of the six old ASEAN member countries for China was slashed from 12.8% to 0.6%. The significant reduction in tariff has lent a strong impetus to the fast growth of bilateral trade. China-ASEAN Expo

In October 2003, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proposed at the seventh China-ASEAN Summit to hold China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) every year from 2004 in Nanning, China. Premier Wen's proposal was very well received by the leaders of the participating countries. Co-sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, economic and trade authorities of the ten ASEAN countries and the ASEAN Secretariat, CAEXPO takes "facilitating CAFTA building, sharing cooperation and development opportunities" as its theme, and covers trade in goods, investment and trade in services. To date, eight CAEXPO and concurrent China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit have been held, which were participated by 42 state leaders and more than 1,500 ministers from the two sides. Over the past seven years, 200 high-level meetings, forums and other relevant activities have been held under the CAEXPO framework, and attracted a total of 316,000 visitors. The total volume of transaction reached US$11.690 billion, and the total value of international and domestic cooperation projects signed during the CAEXPO reached US$49.172 billion and RMB475.902 billion respectively. CAEXPO has thus become an important platform for comprehensive economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN. III. Science and Technology, Environmental Protection and Intellectual Property Rights Science and Technology In 1994, China-ASEAN Joint Science and Technology Committee was established. The committee, which is represented by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology, has held six meetings so far. Under the guidance of the joint committee, the two sides have conducted a number of cooperation programs in agriculture, biology, food, energy, traditional Chinese medicine, remote sensing, earthquake, marine science and other fields, including: international science and technology cooperation forum on new and renewable energy development and utilization (2009), training course on solar system technology and product application (2009), training course on hybrid rice technology (2009), international science and technology cooperation forum on solar energy development and utilization (2010), workshop on technology exchange, demonstration and dissemination for applying traditional Chinese medicine to diabetes prevention and treatment (2010), international science and technology cooperation forum on new agricultural varieties and plantation (2010). Since 2005, exhibition of science and technology has been arranged on the sidelines of CAEXPO each year. Proceeding from the actual needs of ASEAN countries and building on China's achievements in the R&D of agriculture-related high and new technologies, the exhibition has displayed close to 3,000 advanced applicable agricultural technologies, high and new technologies and products, and recorded more than RMB4 billion in total volume of technology trade. In 2006, with the support of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, China-ASEAN Agriculture Cooperation Demonstration Zone was built in Guangxi Baise National Agricultural Science and Technology Park, which is now serving as an outpost in China-ASEAN cooperation on agricultural science

and technology. Since 2006, Baise National Agricultural Science and Technology Park has been sponsoring ASEAN-oriented training courses on subtropical fruit trees, China-ASEAN forum on modern agricultural development and other science and technology exchange programs every year, and trained a group of agricultural technicians and administrators for ASEAN countries. In 2008, the website on China-ASEAN science and technology cooperation and achievement commercialization was launched and put into operation. In response to the needs of Chinese and ASEAN subscribers, the website contains 14 special sections on ASEAN news, exhibition information and R&D outcomes, and 8 special databases on laws and regulations, enterprises and products, and ASEAN standards. Up to date, the website has collected and released more than 20,000 pieces of information and accepted 40,000 registered subscribers. Environmental Protection Currently, the main China-ASEAN cooperation mechanisms for environmental protection include ChinaASEAN Environment Cooperation, 10+3 Environment Ministers Meeting and East Asia Summit Environment Ministers Meeting. At the 11th China-ASEAN Summit in 2007, environmental protection was listed as the 11th priority area for cooperation under the mechanism of China-ASEAN Summit. In 2009, the two sides jointly drafted the China-ASEAN Environmental Protection Cooperation Strategy (2009-2015). In May 2011, the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection formally launched the China-ASEAN Center of Environmental Protection Cooperation. The two sides have conducted a series of exchange programs, including China-ASEAN Environment Policy Dialogue, China-ASEAN Workshop on Environment Management, China-ASEAN Workshop on Environmental Labeling and Cleaner Production, China-ASEAN Workshop on Environment Impact Evaluation and Strategic Environment Impact Evaluation, International Seminar on China-ASEAN Environmental Protection Cooperation Strategy, Workshop for Senior GMS Officials on Environment Management and Ecological Protection Administration, China-ASEAN Workshop on Green Industries Development and Cooperation, and China-ASEAN Seminar on Law Enforcement Competence. Intellectual Property Rights China and ASEAN have conducted extensive and in-depth exchanges and cooperation in intellectual property rights. Since 2005, the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office has organized a number of China-ASEAN seminars on intellectual property rights. In 2009, the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on China-ASEAN Cooperation in Intellectual Property Rights, which has greatly advanced China-ASEAN cooperation in intellectual property rights. IV. Agriculture, Poverty Reduction and Alleviation Agriculture

China and most of the countries in ASEAN have a vast rural population and rich agricultural resources, and agriculture occupies a primary position in their national economy. Therefore, to strengthen cooperation in agriculture is a common strategic decision for both sides. In 2002, China and ASEAN signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation, which identified hybrid rice plantation, aquaculture, biotechnology, farm produce and machinery as the key areas for long-term cooperation between China and ASEAN in agricultural science and technology. In addition, China has also signed bilateral agricultural cooperation agreement or memorandum of understanding with most countries in ASEAN, improved the formulation of agricultural cooperation policies, and strengthened the exchanges of agricultural technologies. China and ASEAN countries have carried out a series of human resources development and technological exchange programs in the field of agriculture. China has sponsored dozens of technology training courses and trained a group of agricultural scientists and technicians for ASEAN countries. China and ASEAN have made continued progress in their cooperation on crop varieties and cultivation technologies. China has also stepped up cooperation with ASEAN countries in sanitary and phytosanitary measures, advantageous new varieties, new technology development, rural biogas development, professional training for rural project management and trade in agricultural products. Agricultural technology demonstration zone is an important means for promoting agriculture-related economic cooperation and trade. With low price, high quality, easy accessibility and practical application, agricultural technologies and equipments made in China are immensely popular in ASEAN countries. In recent years, China has proposed and implemented "China-ASEAN Plan on Improving Comprehensive Food Productivity", "China-ASEAN Plan on Advancing Rural Development" and other programs to ensure comprehensive, sustained and in-depth agricultural cooperation between China and ASEAN. Poverty Reduction and Alleviation From 2007 to 2010, through close cooperation with ASEAN countries and other related international organizations, the International Poverty Reduction Center in China sponsored four rounds of ChinaASEAN forum on social development and poverty reduction. Making use of multiple fund-raising channels, China has sponsored 12 training programs on poverty alleviation policies and practices for ASEAN, and trained more than 200 representatives from ASEAN and other Asian countries in total. China has conducted mutual exchanges and visits with ASEAN government agencies, parliamentary delegations and other stakeholders, and sent delegates to the 10+3 Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Reduction. These interactions have significantly expanded China's contacts and dialogues with ASEAN countries in social development and poverty reduction, and laid a strong foundation for enhancing practical cooperation.

V. Transportation, Information and Communication Technology Transportation (I) Highway Construction The Kunming-Bangkok Highway, which starts from Kunming, China to Bangkok, Thailand via Laos and linked with the road network of Malaysia and Singapore, is the artery connecting China with Southeast Asia. The section in China was already upgraded to high-standard highways or expressways in 2009. The Laos section was completed in 2007, with the Chinese government, the Thai government and the Asian Development Bank each contributing US$30 million for this project. In 2009, the governments of China, Thailand and Laos signed the financing agreement for the cross-Mekong River bridge, which is expected to be completed in 2012 and put the Kunming-Bangkok Highway into full operation. In 2008, the 196 km-long No.7 National Highway of Cambodia built with Chinese aid was completed. In 2009, the 5.4 km-long Suramadu Bridge in Indonesia, financed by preferential export buyer credits from China, was put into use. (II) Railway Construction China actively supports and facilitates the construction of Pan-Asia Railway. The construction plans for the three Chinese sections of the east, middle and west routes have been incorporated into China's Medium- and Long-Term Railway Network Plan. For the east route, construction of the new Yuxi-Mengzi railway started in 2005 and is expected to finish in 2011. Construction of the Mengzi-Hekou line was launched in 2009 and is expected to be completed in 2013. For the middle line, the upgrading of Kunming-Yuxi line started in 2007 and is expected to finish in 2014. For the west line, the upgrading of Kunming-Guangtong line was launched in 2007 and is expected to be completed in 2013; the upgrading of Guangtong-Dali line will kick off in 2011; and the construction of Dali-Ruili line was launched in 2008. While working to build the railway sections within its border, China is also actively supporting the construction of the international sections of the Pan-Asia Railway. Based on the need of ASEAN countries, China has provided assistance for railway building in ASEAN through various means. China has funded the feasibility studies on the missing link located in Cambodia in 2010, as well as the missing links of Vientiane-Mohan in Laos and Muse-Lashio in Myanmar in 2011. (III) Civil Aviation On October 19, 2010, China and ASEAN signed the China-ASEAN Agreement on Air Transport and its first protocol. Up to date, China has signed bilateral air transport agreements with all the ten ASEAN member countries. An airline network covering major cities of China and ASEAN countries is taking shape and playing an effective role in facilitating mutual visits, economic exchanges and trade between the two sides. As of 2010, there were ten Chinese airline companies operating direct flights to ASEAN countries, with 450 passenger flights and 13 cargo flights available per week. On the ASEAN side, 18 airline companies are now flying to China, providing 380 passenger flights and 19 cargo flights each week. The total number of flights operated by the two sides has reached 862 per week.

(IV) Ocean Shipping, Maritime Affairs and Port Cooperation The two sides signed the China-ASEAN Agreement on Ocean Shipping in 2007 and established the annual consultation mechanism in 2008. The two sides established the mechanism of ad hoc maritime consultation in 2005, which was elevated to the annual consultation mechanism with the signing of the China-ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Consultation Mechanism in 2010. The two sides established the mechanism of senior officials meeting on port cooperation in 2008, and are now exploring the possibility of setting up a China-ASEAN port services network. (V) Water Lane Improvement From 2002 to 2003, China provided US$5 million to help dredge the Mekong River sections in Laos and Myanmar, which significantly improved the safety of river lanes and increased the loading capacity from 80% to 100%. As a result, the navigation period was extended from 6-7 months to 10-11 months. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) China and ASEAN have established an effective ICT cooperation mechanism, and held six telecommunication ministers meetings from 2006 to 2011 The two sides have signed the following important documents for cooperation: the China-ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding on ICT Cooperation, the Beijing Declaration on China-ASEAN ICT Cooperative Partnership for Common Development, and the Cooperation Framework of China-ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators Council on Network Security. The China-ASEAN ICT Week, which was proposed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the eighth ChinaASEAN Summit in 2004, provides an important platform for ICT cooperation between the two sides. Three ICT Week events have been held since 2005, including ministers forum, business forum, seminar on radio spectrum management, ICT exhibition and other concurrent activities. In addition, China has been invited by ASEAN to participate in the roundtable of ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators Council since 2006. At the fifth China-ASEAN Summit in 2001, China proposed to provide training for 100 senior telecommunication officials from ASEAN. From 2002 to 2010, the two sides sponsored a total of 27 human resources programs and trained more than 500 ASEAN technicians and managers from various backgrounds through training courses, workshops and other forms. VI. Development of the Great Mekong Subregion GMS Cooperation China attaches great importance to and actively participates in the Great Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program (GMS), and the Chinese premier has attended all three GMS summits.

GMS cooperation in the areas with Chinese participation, including trade and investment, transportation, energy, telecommunication, environment, agriculture, tourism and human resources development, has made continued progress. The GMS Economic Corridor Forum proposed by China held its first meeting in Kunming in 2008 and played a positive role in facilitating the expansion of corridor cooperation from transportation to trade and investment and promoting the development of economic corridor. China has also hosted the GMS Economic Corridor Week, the GMS Project Fair and other GMS-related activities. Major progress has been made in improving the connectivity of transportation infrastructures. The Chinese section of the middle route of GMS North-South Economic Corridor (Kunming-Hanoi-Haiphong), which is 407 km in length, has been upgraded into an expressway standards. The Chinese section of the 380-km-long east route of the corridor (Kunming-Nanning-Hanoi), which is 179 km in length, has been upgraded according to expressway standards. China has also signed the GMS Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Transport of Goods and People and its 17 attachments and 3 protocols on cross-border movement of people, transit arrangement, vehicle standard, highway signs and signals, etc. China has been actively involved in power grid interconnectivity and power trade with other GMS countries, and pushed for the formulation of the GMS master plan for electric power development. The first phase of the GMS Information Superhighway, which was initiated and partly built by China, was completed in March 2008. Starting from 2005, China has launched a series of cooperation programs on the prevention and control of communicable diseases in Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as the border areas in Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, which mainly include the following: the pilot program on joint prevention and control of malaria in China-Myanmar border areas; the pilot programs on AIDS prevention and control in China-Myanmar, China-Laos, and China-Vietnam border areas and the program on the prevention and control of tuberculosis in China-Vietnam border areas. Since 2008, China has hosted three high-level seminars on human resources and social security to exchange opinions with GMS countries on ways to improve social safety net, promote human resources development and boost employment in the course of economic restructuring. China has also set up women training centers in Laos and Thailand to teach practical technologies to local women. Environmental Protection of the Mekong River In May 2010, the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection sponsored the workshop of GMS senior officials on environmental protection and ecological protection administration, which was participated by 21 senior environment officials from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. By offering a package of lectures and field trips, the workshop provided an opportunity for the participants to not only learn about China's policies and experience in managing environmental protection, but also share their own experience in environmental protection and ecological management. TV and Film about the Mekong River

In 2004, China Central Television (CCTV), with the support of the national TV stations of the other five GMS countries, i.e. Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, produced a joint documentary "Drinking Water from the Same River". As of April 2008, the documentary had been broadcasted by more than 30 TV stations in the six GMS countries in Chinese, English, Cambodian, Lao, Myanmar, Thai and Vietnamese languages. VII. Culture, Education and Tourism Culture Over the past 20 years, China and ASEAN have conducted cultural exchanges and cooperation at various levels and through various channels, including ministerial meetings, forums, workshops, people-topeople exchanges, arts festivals and exhibitions. These interactions have markedly enhanced the mutual understanding, respect and appreciation of each other's culture. In October 2003, the delegation of the Chinese Ministry of Culture attended the first 10+3 Culture Ministers Meeting and Senior Officials Meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and exchanged preliminary thoughts with the ASEAN side on China-ASEAN cultural cooperation. In August 2005, the two sides signed the China-ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation, which was the first official document China signed with a regional organization on cultural exchanges and cooperation. Since 2006, the two sides have successfully sponsored five "China-ASEAN Cultural Industry Forums". In 2011, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of dialogue relations, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Chongqing Municipal People's Government co-sponsored the 12th Asian Arts Festival under the theme "ASEAN Culture Week" in Chongqing. Education Since 2008, the two sides have sponsored "China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week" for four consecutive years. More than 1,600 participants from nearly 100 ASEAN universities, education authorities and embassies of ASEAN countries, UNESCO, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN University Network, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and almost 100 Chinese universities attended the "Education Exchange Week" and concurrent events such as university presidents forum, education officials workshop and summer youth camp, and signed over 130 inter-collegial cooperation agreements. In August 2010, the two sides co-sponsored the first "China-ASEAN Education Ministers Roundtable". The participants adopted the Guiyang Declaration of China-ASEAN Education Ministers Roundtable, and agreed to further innovate China-ASEAN cultural and people-to-people exchange mechanism, establish high-level consultation mechanism and faithfully implement the "Double 100,000 Plan" to bring the number of Chinese and ASEAN students in each other's universities to 100,000 respectively by 2020. China-ASEAN Education Ministers Roundtable is the highest-level international education conference hosted by China and ASEAN in recent years, and marked a new stage in China-ASEAN education cooperation.

In order to promote China-ASEAN education exchanges, China has significantly raised the quota of governmental scholarships for the ten ASEAN countries since 2005, and the number of scholarships has been growing by 50% every year since 2008. In 2010, China provided 3,337 scholarships to ASEAN countries, representing an increase of 329% over 2005. There are now 50,000 ASEAN students studying in China, and 70,000 Chinese students in ASEAN countries. China attaches great importance to opening ASEAN language and ASEAN research courses in Chinese universities. There are dozens of universities in China that are now offering programs on the language of ASEAN countries, and the number of students learning ASEAN languages keeps growing. Several Chinese universities, including Peking University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Guizhou University and Yunnan University, have set up research centers on ASEAN or ASEAN countries and strengthened academic exchanges with their ASEAN counterparts. China is now actively promoting Chinese language teaching in ASEAN countries. ASEAN countries have opened 28 Confucius Institutes and 14 Confucius Classrooms. In 2008, China, for the first time, incorporated a one-year English-teaching Master's program, "MPA for Developing Countries", into its foreign human resources training plan. Organized by Peking University, Tsinghua University and East China Normal University, the MPA program aims to train high-level administration officials for developing countries. From 2008 to 2010, 17 senior officials from ASEAN countries were enrolled to the program. Through such platforms as the training course for foreign assistance and the special program for Asia regional cooperation, Chinese universities have sponsored a series of short-term training courses and academic exchanges for ASEAN countries, including the Workshop on Modern Distant Education, the Seminar of Education Administration Officials, the 10+3 Seminar of Youth Sinologists, the Workshop of Senior Teachers on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Asia, the China-ASEAN Environment Education Forum, the China-ASEAN Seminar of People-to-people, Cultural and Academic Exchanges, the China-ASEAN International Forum on Vocational and Technical Education and Training, and invited many ASEAN scholars to China. More than 1,000 ASEAN teachers and students visit China every year. Tourism The launch of CAFTA has contributed to the rapid development of tourism industries in China and ASEAN. China and ASEAN countries are now each other's important source of tourist. Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are among the top ten destinations for outbound travels by Chinese tourists. Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia have each occupied a position in the top 15 sources of inbound tourists for China for many years, and played an important role in meeting the goal of promoting friendship through tourism. VIII. Health, Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and Customs Health

The joint campaign against the SARS outbreak in 2003 marked the beginning of formal China-ASEAN cooperation in public health. With the establishment of health ministers meeting and senior officials meeting mechanisms, China-ASEAN cooperation has been very productive in this field. The first China-ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting was held in June 2006 in Yangon, Myanmar, which set out the rule for the meeting to be held every two years, following a lead-up senior officials meeting. Both China and ASEAN countries have designated a national contact person for health cooperation. Three China-ASEAN health ministers meetings have been held so far. Prevention and Control of Epidemics In October 2006, the training course of China-ASEAN AIDS Laboratory Network was held in Beijing, which was participated by 20 AIDS Laboratory Network technicians from ASEAN. In November 2006, the China-ASEAN Seminar on AIDS Prevention and Control with Traditional Medicine was held in Beijing. In 2007, the Chinese Ministry of Health sponsored the China-ASEAN Seminar on the Prevention and Control Progress of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Beijing. Two training programs on the laboratory technologies for diagnosing pathogenic avian influenza were held in Beijing from October to November 2007, which were participated by 18 technicians from nine ASEAN countries in this sector. In June 2008, the 10+3 epidemic information notification website was officially launched, which enabled China and ASEAN countries to share information on emerging communicable diseases and better control epidemics in their respective countries. In May 2009, the special 10+3 Health Ministers Meeting in response to H1N1 influenza A was held in Bangkok, Thailand. China pledged at the meeting to teach ASEAN countries laboratory detection technologies for H1N1 influenza A virus, and provide diagnosis reference agents for scientific research to the ASEAN countries. Cooperation in Traditional Medicine In October 2008, the China-ASEAN Seminar on Traditional Medicine Standardization was held in Beijing. In August 2010, the China-ASEAN Seminar on Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Medicine Development was held in Beijing. In 2011, China sponsored a tour to promote traditional Chinese medicine in ASEAN. Cooperation in Stomatology In November 2008, the China-ASEAN Stomatology Exchange Forum was held in Nanning, China, which provided a platform for stomatology education, academic exchanges, professional training and other relevant cooperation initiatives. Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine In October 2007, China and ASEAN held the first China-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine under the theme "strengthening safety management of food

import and export, protecting consumer interests", which marked the official launch of consultation mechanism for China-ASEAN quality inspection ministers. The meeting issued a joint statement on closer food safety cooperation. Pursuant to the China-ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary Cooperation (SPS-MOU), the second China-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine was held in Cambodia under the theme "strengthening SPS cooperation, preventing cross-border transmission of harmful alien pests". In 2009, the two sides signed the intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Cooperation in Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity (TBT-MOU). The third China-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine was held in October 2011 under the theme "product quality and safety". While conducting quality inspection cooperation with its ASEAN counterparts, the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine also provided trainings for quality inspection professionals from ASEAN countries. The completed programs include the following: ChinaASEAN Seminar of Import and Export Inspection and Quarantine Officials, China-ASEAN Workshop of SPS Cooperation Coordinators, China-ASEAN Workshop on the Prevention of Cross-border Avian Influenza Transmission, etc. Customs China-ASEAN customs cooperation was launched in 2003. The two sides have established a regular consultation mechanism at the ministerial level and a consultation mechanism of customs coordination committees at the expert level. As of 2011, nine sessions of China-ASEAN Customs Directors Consultation have been held. As of January 2006, customs expert committees from China and ASEAN had held six rounds of consultations, and proposed nine priority areas for customs cooperation. In 2007, the ASEAN Expert Committee was renamed to ASEAN Customs Affairs Coordination Committee. In December of the same year, the customs coordination committees of the two sides met for the first time, and as of 2011, six rounds of consultations have been held. China Customs have sponsored six seminars with different themes for the customs authorities of ASEAN member countries for the past six years and attracted nearly 200 customs officials from the ASEAN side. China Customs plans to sponsor six training courses on "speeding up the reform and modernization of the customs of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar" (two courses each year) from 2011 to 2013 to help the customs authorities of these four countries accelerate reform and modernization. IX. Journalism and People-to-people Ties Journalism

The China-ASEAN Information Ministers Meeting is an important channel for bilateral cooperation in journalism. The first session, which was convened in Jakarta, Indonesia in May 2007, marked the inception of the mechanism for China-ASEAN journalism cooperation. In September 2010, the second China-ASEAN Information Ministers Meeting was held in Beijing, and the China-ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding on Journalism Cooperation was signed at the meeting. From 2002 to 2010, the People's Daily of China hosted four high-level workshops on China-ASEAN media cooperation. In January 2007, to mark the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, China and the ASEAN Secretariat jointly edited and published the Collection of China-ASEAN Folk Stories with the support of China-ASEAN Cooperation Fund. Radio and TV China and ASEAN have conducted fruitful exchanges and cooperation in radio, film and TV. In particular, since the establishment of China-ASEAN strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in 2003, bilateral cooperation in radio, film and TV has become more diversified and multi-faceted, and played an important role in deepening mutual understanding, consolidating traditional friendship and promoting regional peace and prosperity. In recent years, the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has sponsored a series of ASEAN-focused forums and seminars: China-ASEAN Radio and TV Summit Forum in August 2008 adopted the Beijing Declaration and mapped out plans for future cooperation in this sector; ChinaASEAN TV Exchange Forum and program showing in October 2009 played a positive role in promoting bilateral exchanges and co-production of TV programs. The two sides have conducted a variety of program exchanges and joint interviews. The FM programs of China Radio International (CRI) have landed in Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia. The international channel (CCTV4) and English channel (CCTV9) of CCTV are also accessible in the ten ASEAN countries via antenna, satellite or cable signals. Channel NewsAsia of Singapore and Celestial Movies of Malaysia have landed in certain parts of China. The Asia Today program of CCTV4 has signed information exchange agreements with Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Laos respectively, and served as a gateway for China to share its information with ASEAN countries. From April to June 2007, a Chinese media group organized by CRI conducted a joint news reporting program, "China-ASEAN Journey of Cooperation", in ASEAN countries. They traveled more than 20,000 km in a period of over 50 days, and their program was very well received by the audience. There is a growing number of film production units from ASEAN countries that are coming to China for shooting documentaries, films and special programs. According to incomplete statistics, the China Association for Radio, Film and Television Exchange alone has received 15 film production units from ASEAN countries since 2006. In recent years, SARFT has sponsored three training programs for ASEAN technicians and journalists, and trained 251 radio and TV broadcasting technicians, reporters and editors from ASEAN countries. In

addition to training programs, China has also taken an active part in the technological upgrading of the national radio and TV broadcasting systems in ASEAN countries. China's radio, film and TV products have established a visible presence in Southeast Asian countries. According to incomplete statistics, the export of TV programs to the ten ASEAN countries now accounts for one half of China's total export in terms of running hours. In China's import of foreign TV dramas, the works of ASEAN countries account for one third of the total. ASEAN countries have already become an important import and export market for China's trade in film and TV services. Youth Exchanges China-ASEAN Youth Ministers Meeting, which has been running for three sessions, is an important mechanism for youth exchanges between the two sides. China has sponsored five sessions of ChinaASEAN Youth Camp, five sessions of China-ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Forum and other youth exchange programs. Since 2002, China has organized four training courses for young ASEAN government officials, and trained 175 youth officials for the ten ASEAN countries. The All-China Youth Federation and the Thai Ministry of Social Development and Human Security have been partnering with each other in hosting the Lancang-Mekong River Youth Friendly Exchange Program every year. Starting from 2005, the Chinese Ministry of Education has been sponsoring China-ASEAN student summer (winter) camps, Chinese Bridge language competitions and other youth exchange programs on an annual basis to encourage the universities in China's border provinces to conduct youth exchanges with ASEAN. Now, nearly 1,000 youngsters from ASEAN countries visit China each year. Since 2000, China has been partnering with Vietnam to co-sponsor the "Friendly Meeting of Chinese and Vietnamese Youths" each year. China also maintains frequent bilateral youth exchanges with the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar. Women Between 2008 and 2009, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) trained over 40 senior women officials from Laos and Myanmar through the China-ASEAN Women Training Center in the Guangxi Women's Federation. In addition, ACWF has opened women training centers in Laos and Thailand to teach practical skills to local women. China-ASEAN Association Since its establishment in 2004, China-ASEAN Association has made vigorous efforts to promote peopleto-people exchanges between China and ASEAN countries. It is the host of the annual Conference on China-ASEAN People-to-People Friendship Organizations held in China and ASEAN countries, and initiated the "China-ASEAN Journey of Friendship" campaign in 2006. China-ASEAN Association sponsored the "Friendship Bringing-Light Tour" program in 2008, in which a team of eye specialists from Tongren Hospital of China went to ASEAN countries to perform free eyesight recovery surgeries for local cataract patients. In 2009, China-ASEAN Association and the

Vietnamese Federation of Friendship Organizations co-sponsored the "2009 Grand Gala of Residents Living in China-Vietnam Border Areas" in Fangchenggang, China and Mong Cai, Vietnam. X. Outlook With the present in-depth development of the economic globalization and regional integration, the future and destiny of China and ASEAN countries are closely relevant more than ever. Strengthening bilateral good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation serves the common interests of both sides, meets the demands of the era for peace, development and cooperation, and is the common strategic choice of the both sides. No matter how the international situation changes, China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, unswervingly pursue the foreign policy of "building friendship and partnership with neighbouring countries", and be ASEAN's good neighbor, good friend and good partner for ever. China will firmly support ASEAN's less developed countries in accelerating the realization of their development goals, firmly support ASEAN's community building, and firmly support ASEAN's leading role in East Asian cooperation. China is willing to continue to maintain close high-level exchanges to enhance all-round cooperation with ASEAN. China is ready to make joint efforts with ASEAN to implement all the relevant agreements of Free Trade Area and continuously enhance the establishment of the FTA, promote the SMEs' understanding and use of FTA, strive to achieve the goal of $500 billion in bilateral trade volume in 2015, and build the FTA into a model among developing countries. China will work with ASEAN to fully implement the second five-year Plan of Action, to expand cooperation in various fields such as connectivity, agriculture, science and technology, public health, environmental protection, energy, and finance. China will continue to support the implementation of the "ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity", "China - ASEAN Strategic Plan on Transportation Cooperation" and other important documents. On the basis of land and air connectivity, China will actively explore maritime connectivity with ASEAN, with a view making it a new bright spot in China-ASEAN cooperation. China is willing to further strengthen social and cultural exchanges with ASEAN, jointly promote tourism, education, culture, media, youth exchanges, make use of the platforms such as China-ASEAN Center, Education Exchage Week, and Youth Camps to enhance people-to-people understanding and friendship, and achieve the goal of 150 million people from each other in 2015, so that people of China and ASEAN will be firm supporters, active builders and real beneficiaries of China-ASEAN relations. China and ASEAN have broad common interests. With the joint efforts of both sides, the bilateral political relations will be more solid, economic and trade ties will be closer, areas of cooperation will be more diversified, and good-neighborly friendship will be more popular. The future of China - ASEAN relationship will be brighter.

Elevating Asean-China ties: Who is wooing whom?

Yang Razali Kassim RSIS Singapore October 15, 2013 1:00 am Amidst growing tensions in the Asia Pacific, China is pushing the idea of a new treaty of friendship and cooperation with Asean

At the Asean Summit in Brunei last week, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang broached a new treaty of friendship and cooperation with Asean. As he had declared in a pre-departure statement in Beijing, the proposed treaty topped his list of seven proposals to forge closer ties in the coming decade, including upgrading the China-Asean Free Trade Area. That, Li said, would take China- Asean relations from its "golden decade" to the "diamond decade" ahead - marking an upgrade of their "strategic partnership" which began in 2003. The same message was conveyed by President Xi Jinping to the Indonesian parliament on October 3 during his visit to Jakarta - the first such address by a foreign leader.

The Chinese push for a new treaty of friendship is significant, coming at a time of great flux in regional politics. If realised, this new treaty could be the icing on the cake of Beijing's desire for a new phase in relations, underpinned by a "new consensus" with Asean on elevating this partnership to build what Beijing calls "a closer China-Asean community of common destiny".

Asean's immediate response was carefully calibrated. "We noted with appreciation China's proposed treaty on good-neighbourliness and friendly cooperation," the summit chairman's statement said. The group, however, also let it be known later that the treaty proposal had to be carefully studied first.

Beijing is clearly serious about entering a new strategic pact with Asean that will govern their future relationship. Such a treaty would underscore what China declares as its peaceful intention towards the

region. These assurances are timely amid growing apprehension of China's rise and the consequent great power tussle with the United States, which is rebalancing in Asia. Caught in between are the Asean states - most of whom prefer not to be drawn into taking sides.

China's "charm offensive" kicked off on the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership, on August 29, that was accompanied by a slew of "sweeteners" for Asean in the form of billion-dollar development projects. The implicit message is that China has the deep pocket to back up its "diamond-decade" plan with Asean - at a time when the US is not really in the best of political and economic health.

To be sure, the contents of a new treaty of friendship and cooperation remain unclear. But the chairman's statement suggested it to be a response to an earlier trial balloon by Indonesia in May this year for an Indo-Pacific wide treaty of friendship "beyond Asean and China".

China's swift response, capitalising on the momentum of the Asean and East Asia summits this week, is clearly aimed at winning over Southeast Asia. Beijing's eagerness to secure its seat at the high table of East Asian summitry is not, however, being matched by a distracted America. President Obama himself conceded that his no-show has given China the advantage, amid increasing regional worry about American staying power in this region - with all its ramifications for the changing regional balance.

But what did Indonesia say that prodded China? In his speech to a think-tank in Washington, Foreign Minister Marty Natelegawa spoke about the need for an "Indo-Pacific wide treaty of friendship and cooperation" spanning two oceans - the Pacific and Indian oceans. He referred to the region as "an economic power in its own right" - an engine of global economic growth containing some of the world's most strategic sea lanes. Future architectures, Marty said, may emphasise the connectedness of these two areas - yet this connectivity was already evident in the EAS and the Asean Regional Forum (ARF).

Three challenges, however, confronted the region's future: the lack of trust or "trust-deficit" as he called it; unresolved territorial claims; and managing the impact of change. A "pacific" Indo-Pacific requires respect for a code of behaviour, such as the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, which calls for a peaceful settlement of disputes.

It also requires a new paradigm of "common security" forged through what he called "dynamic equilibrium". Marty defined this as a situation marked by "an absence of preponderant power" brought about by a sense of "common responsibility" to maintain the region's peace and stability.

The proposed treaty, he said, would not be unlike the region's existing non-aggression pact called the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976. This had been signed on to by virtually all the major powers including the US, with China the first major power to accede in 2003. The new treaty, Marty said, would provide "flesh and strengthen the commitment already expressed by the East Asia Summit".

It is not difficult to see why Marty's concept of the "absence of preponderant power" would sit well with China. Beijing may see it as de-emphasising the US presence, though Marty did not intend it to mean a US exclusion. Indeed, his dynamic equilibrium strategy would equally apply to China - meaning China may not be the preponderant regional power either.

In his address to the Indonesian parliament, Xi described China-Asean relations as being at a "new historical starting point". He said Beijing attached "great importance to Indonesia's status and influence in Asean". Xi interestingly also echoed Marty's idea of "common responsibility" to maintain regional peace and stability. Xi even advocated a "new concept of cooperative security" that would begin by tackling together non-traditional security challenges such as disaster relief and prevention, cyber security and transnational crime.

Significantly, China was equally ready to engage in two key security platforms - the China-Asean defence ministers' meeting mechanism, and regular talks on regional security issues over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights through "a dialogue of equals". These are equally key messages that Asean should give serious thought to.

Should a new treaty of friendship and cooperation be forged between China and Asean, it could well amount to a "TAC 2". But will TAC 2 replace TAC 1, or will the two co-exist? Will TAC 2 elevate the code of conduct and thus confirm China's sincere desire for peace with its neighbours? Or will it nullify the COC and set back trust-building?

These are critical questions that remain to be answered by Asean and China as they negotiate their next moves in this game of diplomatic chess. But if framed well, TAC 2, despite its current underplay, could be the most significant instrument to manage the region's potential flashpoints - especially the increasingly sensitive South China Sea.

ASEAN-CHINA Dialogue Relations

Introduction

1. ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations commenced when H.E. QianQichen, the then Foreign Minister of the Peoples Republic of China, attended the opening session of the 24th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July 1991 in Kuala Lumpur as a guest of the Malaysian Government in which he expressed Chinas keen interest to cooperate with ASEAN for mutual benefit. Subsequently, China was accorded full Dialogue Partner status at the 29th AMM in July 1996 in Jakarta.

2. The relationship between ASEAN and China was elevated to a higher plane with the signing of the Joint Declaration of the Heads of State/Government on Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity at the 7th ASEAN-China Summit in October 2003 in Bali, Indonesia and the adoption of the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action (POA) 2005-2010 to implement the Joint Declaration at the 8th ASEAN-China Summit in November 2004 in Vientiane. In order to continue to deepen the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, a new Plan of Action for the period of 2011-2015 was adopted at the 13th ASEANChina Summit in October 2010 in Ha Noi.

3. ASEAN and China had agreed to cooperate on eleven priority areas of cooperation, namely agriculture, information and communication technology, human resource development, Mekong Basin Development, investment, energy, transport, culture, public health, tourism and environment.

4. In order to further promoting mutual communication and coordination as well as for advancing the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership, China appointed its first resident Ambassador to ASEAN and established its Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta in September 2012.

Political and Security Cooperation

5. ASEAN and China continued to enhance their close and strategic partnership on political and security cooperation through regular dialogue and consultations which include Summits, ministerial meetings, senior officials and experts meetings, as well as through broader ASEAN-initiated regional architecture such as ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus).

6. China was the first dialogue partner of ASEAN to accede to the TAC in October 2003 in Bali. Chinas accession to the TAC has contributed to the stature of the TAC as the code of conduct for inter-state relations in the region. China was also the first Nuclear Weapon State (NWS) which expressed its intention to accede to the Protocol to the SEANWFZ.

7. With the desire to promote peaceful, friendly and harmonious environment in the South China Sea, ASEAN and China signed the DOC in November 2002 in Phnom Penh. After a series of discussions, ASEAN and China adopted the Guidelines to implement the DOC on 21 July 2011 in Bali. Subsequent to the adoption of the Guidelines, four activities were implemented in 2012 as part of the implementation of the DOC, namely: i) Workshop on Marine Hazard Prevention and Mitigation in the South China Sea on 17-18 July 2012 in Kunming, China; ii) Workshop on Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity on 31 July 4 August 2012 in Singapore; iii) Symposium on Marine Ecological Environment and Monitoring Techniques on 16-17 October 2012 in Xiamen,China; and iv) Joint Workshop in Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the DOC on 1-3 November 2012 in Phnom Penh.

8.Following-up to the proposal of Premier Wen Jiabao at 14th ASEAN-China Summit in November 2011 in Bali, China has set up the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund, with RMB3 billion, to provide financial support to ASEAN-China cooperation in the areas of maritime scientific research, connectivity and navigation safety, particularly to implement agreed cooperative activities and projects within the DOC framework.

9. On non-traditional security, ASEAN and China signed a Joint Declaration of ASEAN and China on Cooperation in the Field of Non-Traditional Security Issues in 2002 followed by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Non-Traditional Security Issues in 2004. After the expiry of the MoU in 2009, a new MoU for the period of 2010-2014 was signed in 2009 in Siem Reap. A Plan of Action to Implement the MoU was later adopted at the 2nd ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting on combating Transnational Crime on 12 October 2011 in Bali, Indonesia. A series of

training and workshop for ASEAN Member States has been provided by China in 2011-2012 to implement the Plan of Action. At the 15th ASEAN-China Summit, the ASEAN Leaders looked forward to enhance cooperation with China to address the trafficking of illegal drug and narcotics.

Economic Cooperation

10. Trade and economic ties between ASEAN and China have been growing rapidly over the past years, especially after the signing of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation in November 2002 to establish the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).

11. Prior to the realisation of ACFTA on 1 January 2010, Trade in Goods Agreement, Trade in Service Agreement and the Investment Agreement under the Framework Agreement of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation were concluded and signed on 29 November 2004, 14 January 2007 and 15 August 2009, respectively.

12. The ACFTA was realised on 1 January 2010 as almost 97 per cent of products classified by ASEAN-6 (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand) and China in the Normal Track have been eliminated. The CLMV countries will fully implement the ACFTA on 1 January 2015.

13. In implementing the ACFTA, ASEAN and China established an ACFTA Joint Committee (ACFTA-JC) in 2011, which met for the first time in April 2012 in Nanning, China. The ACFTA-JCs main tasks include overseeing, supervising, coordinating and reviewing the implementation of the Agreement. In order to provide the ACFTA-JC with a legal standing, the Third Protocol to Amend the ASEAN-China Framework Agreement of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation was signed at the sidelines of the 15th ASEANChina Summit in November 2012 in Phnom Penh.

14. China continued to be ASEANs largest trading partner since 2009. Trade between ASEAN and China increased by 20.9% from US$232 billion in 2010 to US$280.4 billion in 2011. China has also maintained her position as the second biggest export destination for two consecutive years. According to ASEAN statistics in 2011, ASEAN exported US$145.7 billion, an increase of 28.9% compared to the previous year. Imports from China grew by 13.2% amounting to US$134.7 billion. Balance of trade was in ASEANs

favour for the first time in 2011, with exports exceeding imports by US$11 billion. According to the Chinese statistics for 2011, ASEAN is currently Chinas third largest trading partner, stepping up from fourth place in 2010[1].

15. According to ASEAN statistics, the foreign direct investment flow from China to ASEAN increased significantly by 117% from US$2.7 billion in 2010 to US$5.9 billion in 2011[2].

16. The ASEAN-China EXPO (CAEXPO), an event which showcases products from ASEAN and China, has been organised and hosted by China on an annual basis in Nanning, China since 2004. At the sidelines of the CAEXPO, an ASEAN-China Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) was established to bring government and the private sector together to exchange views on matters affecting the economy and businesses of ASEAN Member States and China. The 9th CAEXPO was held on 21-25 September 2012 in Nanning, China with the theme of Science and Technology.

17. ASEAN and China Leaders at the 15th ASEAN-China Summit reaffirmed that ASEAN Connectivity is the first priority and fundamental in the development of an enhanced connectivity between ASEAN and the wider region, including ASEAN with China. In this regard, ASEAN and China have agreed to establish a regular meeting betweenthe ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) and the Chinese Working Committee on Connectivity, with their first held on 7 November 2012. The Leaders tasked the ACCC and the Chinese Working Committee on Connectivity to identify key areas for connectivity cooperation and work out a list of prioritised projects, and coordinate technical and financial resource mobilization from both ASEAN and China to better support financing for connectivity cooperation projects.

18. The ASEAN-China Centre in Beijing was officially launched at the margins of the 14th ASEAN-China Summit in November 2011 in Bali. The Centre is a one-stop information centre to promote ASEAN-China cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, education and culture. The virtual centre can be accessed at http://www.asean-china-center.org/. Subsequently, a Joint Council[3] Meeting of the ASEAN-China Centre was convened in accordance to the MoU on Establishing the ASEAN-China Centre to determine the general policies governing the activities of the ASEAN-China Centre. Two Joint Council Meetings were successfully convened in May and December 2012 in Beijing, respectively.

Socio-Cultural Cooperation

19. On socio-cultural cooperation, a number of activities have been carried out in the areas of public health, science and technology, education, culture, labour and social security, local government and people-to-people exchanges, environment, media, youth, social development and poverty reduction.

20. In the area of public health, ASEAN and China Ministers on Health signed an MOU on Health Cooperation at the 4th ASEAN-China Health Ministers Meeting on 6 July 2012 in Phuket, Thailand to promote ASEAN-China health cooperation. The MoU was signed with a view to promote cooperation among ASEAN Member States and China in the field of health and medical science.

21. As 2012 has been designated as the ASEAN-China Year of Cooperation in Science and Technology, a series of activities including trainings, workshops and conferences was held in China throughout 2012. In addition, the ASEAN-China Science and Technology Partnership Programme was officially launched at theASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation which was held on 22 September 2012 at the sidelines of the 9th CAEXPO.

22. ASEAN-China cooperation on environment is growing stronger. The China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Centre (CAEC) was officially inaugurated in May 2011 in Beijing. Subsequently, an ASEANChina Environmental Cooperation Action Plan was finalised and adopted by ASEAN and China in 2011. The Action Plan includes: i) establishing ASEAN-China environmental cooperation mechanism, including ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting and ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Forum; ii) Promote the cooperation on environmental industry; iii) implement the ASEAN-China Green Envoys Program; and iv) Promote joint research. As a follow-up, two ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Forums had been convened in 2011 and 2012 with the theme of Innovation for Green Development and Biodiversity and Regional Green Development, respectively, and the ASEAN-China Green Envoys Program was launched in October 2011.

23. At the 15th ASEAN-China Summit, the ASEAN Leaders noted with appreciation the establishment of ten ASEAN-China Education and Training Centres in six provinces of China, which would further contribute to the ASEAN Community building efforts and promote the solidarity, development and cooperation in the East Asia region as well as to assist ASEANs efforts to promote socio-economic and human resources development.

Expanding China-ASEAN relations with cooperation, solidarity English.news.cn 2011-11-16 20:11:44 FeedbackPrintRSS by Ding Yi, Chen Junxia

BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- In the era for peace, development and cooperation, enhancing mutual trust and solidarity has strategic meaning for both China and the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Strengthening bilateral good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation serves the common interests of both sides, and is their the common strategic choice.

Scanning the global economic blueprints, Asia and the Pacific region still maintain the most dynamic area around the world on the eve of ASEAN summit, due to start in Bali, Indonesia, on Thursday.

The cooperation between China and ASEAN has achieved fruitful results during the past 20 years.

Reviewing the development of relations between China and ASEAN, Beijing attaches great importance to and stays committed to deepening good neighborliness, friendship and cooperation with ASEAN. The two sides have witnessed many "firsts" between themselves over the past 20 years.

China is the first ASEAN dialogue partner to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the first to establish a strategic partnership with ASEAN, the first to unequivocally support the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, and the first to confirm to establish a free trade area with ASEAN.

The two sides have strengthened their political mutual trust and elevated the status of their relationship from dialogue partnership to strategic partnership.

The full range of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, which were established by both sides, have become catalysts of prosperity for the region.

China-ASEAN trade has maintained rapid growth. The volume of bilateral trade jumped from US 7.96 billion U.S. dollars in 1991 to 292.78 billion dollars in 2010. That represents a 37-fold increase and an average annual growth of more than 20 percent.

China now is already the largest trading partner of ASEAN, while ASEAN is the third largest trading partner of China.

The two sides has established the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), which is the largest free trade area among developing countries.

The cooperation mechanism between China and ASEAN has also become a booster of humane communications in the region.

Over the past two decades, China and ASEAN have conducted cultural exchanges and cooperation at various levels and through various channels, including ministerial meetings, forums, workshops, peopleto-people exchanges, arts festivals and exhibitions.

Those activities have markedly enhanced the mutual understanding, respect and appreciation of each other's culture.

A near neighbor is better than a distant cousin. With the present in-depth development of economic globalization and regional integration, the future and destiny of China and ASEAN countries are more closely related than ever.

Taking a look back into the past and a look forward to the future, a good relationship with ASEAN has brought benefits to China's development, which in return has brought opportunities of development and prosperity to ASEAN.

China has both the will and the confidence to unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, pursue the foreign policy of "building friendship and partnership with neighboring countries," and be ASEAN's good neighbor, good friend and good partner for ever.

China vs Asean Solidarity...