The relations between China and the Association of Southeast
Asian Countries (ASEAN) are at the "best period" in the history, Gu
Xiulian, chairwoman of the China-ASEAN Association, said in Beijing
Thursday evening.
China and the ASEAN have developed sound and all-round dialogue
relations in the past years, with cooperation strengthened in
sectors like culture, science and technology, energy and tourism,
Gu said at a reception held by the China-ASEAN Association in
Beijing.
The China-ASEAN Association held three major activities in 2006,
namely the conference on China-ASEAN people-to-people friendship
organizations in May, the reception marks the 15th anniversary of
the establishment of dialogue relations between the two sides in
July, and the China-ASEAN friendship tour in October and
November.
"These activities have far-reaching effects and have greatly
promoted bilateral relations," said Gu, also vice chairwoman of the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China.
The China-ASEAN Association, founded on August 3, 2004, aims to
promote people-to-people and non-governmental cooperation between
China and the ASEAN. It helps enhance mutual understanding and
friendship between the peoples of China and the ASEAN countries by
holding various activities, including personnel exchanges, seminars
and cultural events.
Foreign envoys from the ASEAN countries such as Brunei, Laos,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia attended
the reception.
Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam Abdul Hamid said the year 2007
marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN. He
hoped the China-ASEAN relations could be lifted to new heights
through more exchanges in social and cultural sectors and among the
youth generation.
(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2007)
