The Commemorative Summit marking the 15th
Anniversary of the Dialogue Relations between China and the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was opened in
Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
on Monday.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said in his opening remarks
that over the past 15 years, relations between China and ASEAN have
evolved from removal of misgivings to commencement of dialogue to
enhancement of mutual trust and to the final establishment of
strategic partnership.
"Relations between China and ASEAN have never been as good as
they are today," he said.
Wen said the two sides have greatly enhanced mutual political
trust, conducted fruitful trade and economic cooperation, made
steady progress in building free trade area and expanded exchanges
and cooperation in all fields.
China-ASEAN relations are a "fine example" of friendly exchanges
and cooperation between countries in this region, and have brought
real benefits to the peoples of China and the ASEAN countries, Wen
said, adding that the relations also made important contribution to
peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world as a
whole.
He said the purpose of the summit is to look back and sum up the
achievements and experience of China-ASEAN relations in the past 15
years and together chart the course for future cooperation.
"I will be happy to work with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
and other colleagues to make our meeting a fruitful one, linking
the past with future and raising our strategic partnership to an
even higher level," he said.
Arroyo, president of the Philippines that holds the rotating
presidency of the ASEAN, also delivered a speech at the opening
ceremony.
(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2006)