|
At an ASEAN-China bilateral meeting (10+1) Thursday, China and ASEAN discussed China's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), said a joint press release in Phnom Penh.
"All ASEAN member countries are very pleased to welcome, and have given their consent to the People's Republic of China to accede to the TAC," the release quoted Hor Namhong, ASEAN standing committee chairman and foreign minister of Cambodia, as announcing.
"The ASEAN welcomes China taking the lead to joint the TAC and holds that China's accession will enhance friendship, cooperation and unity among all nations in the region," it said.
China expressed her "shared identity with the purposes and principles of TAC," the release added.
The Chinese government would submit the accession matter to the national legislature for deliberation as soon as possible and hoped a signing ceremony could be done in October during ASEAN-China Leaders' Meeting, the release concluded.
Part of ASEAN+10 meeting (10+10), 10+1 meeting is convened between ASEAN and each of its 10 dialogue partners separately to examine specific issues.
ASEAN+10 meeting was opened Thursday morning.
The 10 dialogue partners of ASEAN are Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2003)
|
