Enhancing mutual political trust will provide an important basis
and guarantee for the comprehensive development of China-ASEAN
relations, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Monday.
In
a speech at the sixth China-ASEAN Summit held here Monday, Zhu said
the conclusion of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in
South China Sea is important advancement of China-ASEAN relations
that marks a higher level of political trust between the two sides
and will contribute to regional peace and stability.
China appreciates and supports the purposes and principles of the
Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and remains
positive on the TAC, Zhu said.
China would like to make concerted efforts with all ASEAN countries
to promote an early accession by all five Nuclear Weapon States to
the protocol to the Treaty on Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free
Zone, added the Chinese premier.
As
to China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), Zhu said
China's accession to the WTO has become an important pillar and
stimulus to the East Asian economy.
Citing ASEAN's trade with China as an example, he said the exports
from ASEAN countries to China increased by 27% on average and
nearly 50 percent for some countries in the first three quarters of
this year.
He
promised that China will gradually increase its investment in ASEAN
countries and make the investments a new and important factor for
economic development in ASEAN countries.
The sixth China-ASEAN summit ended in Phnom Penh Monday.
(Xinhua News
Agency November 4, 2002)