China, ASEAN will join hands to promote common development

?¤China remains fully confident about the prospects of China-ASEAN
cooperation.
?¤China's proposals include the signing of an
investment agreement.
?¤Expanded cooperation will help augment their ability
to tackle the crisis.

BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese
government's proposals for strengthening cooperation with the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) show that China remains fully confident about
the prospects of China-ASEAN cooperation.

During a meeting in Beijing with envoys of the 10
ASEAN countries, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi briefed them about the
Chinese government's proposals for enhancing China-ASEAN cooperation in an
all-round way. Yang has just returned home from Thailand late Saturday where
scheduled ASEAN meetings were postponed due to domestic unrest in that country.







Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (C)
meets with envoys of 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), in Beijing, capital of China, on April 12,
2009.(Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Photo
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China's
proposals for strengthening its cooperation with ASEAN include the signing of an
investment agreement. The agreement, which was scheduled to be signed during the
scheduled meetings, would be conducive to the establishment of the China-ASEAN
free trade area.

This demonstrates that that the series of relevant
measures China has already decided to adopt will remain unchanged and that China
has full confidence in the future of China-ASEAN friendly cooperation, despite
the postponement of ASEAN meetings.

Strengthening and deepening cooperation is the common
wish of the two sides, and is also an important avenue for fighting
protectionism and enhancing their ability to resist risks in the current
economic circumstances.

As close neighbors, China and ASEAN countries have
enjoyed increased cooperation in various areas. In the face of the global
financial crisis, it has become the consensus of both sides that they should
work together to ride out the present difficulties.

Expanded cooperation between China and ASEAN will
help augment their ability to tackle the crisis.

Making joint efforts to push for the signing of an
investment agreement displays the determination of both sides to promote trade
and investment liberalization, fight protectionism and achieve a win-win result.


Furthermore, the China-ASEAN free trade area, to be
completed in 2010, will play an important and profound role in further
strengthening China-ASEAN relations and boosting cooperation in the whole of
East Asia.

China and ASEAN countries are close and friendly
neighbors. The key to continued development of bilateral relations lies in
mutual trust, confidence and unremitting efforts.

Only with that can the two sides enjoy solid
cooperation and join hands in achieving sustainable development.



China rolls out assistance blueprint
for ASEAN


BEIJING, April
12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Sunday unveiled a
multi-billion-dollar package of aid and credit to enhance China-ASEAN
cooperation.

Yang met with envoys of the 10 ASEAN countries in Beijing
Sunday, fresh from his return from Thailand late Saturday where scheduled
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings were postponed due to
Thailand's domestic unrest. Full story

Chinese FM: China shows sincerity, responsibility, confidence in
East Asian cooperation

BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's
attendance at the ASEAN-related summits has shown the Chinese government's
sincerity, responsibility and confidence in facilitating the East Asian
cooperation, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Saturday.

The summits related to the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) are an important cooperative mechanism in the region. All the
participants hope the summits can reach consensus and yield a substantial
outcome, he said. Full story

Wen says China to keep cooperation with ASEAN, back its
integration

PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao told his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva during a phone
conversation on Saturday that China attaches great importance to its relations
with ASEAN and will steadfastly strengthen the friendly and mutual beneficial
cooperation with ASEAN and support the ASEAN integration process. Full story

Wen says China's policies toward ASEAN
unchanged

PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao on Saturday told his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva on phone that
China's policies on deepening the exchanges and cooperation with the ASEAN in
various fields, helping the ASEAN states overcome difficulties and pushing
forward the regional cooperation process remain unchanged. Full story

Chinese premier meets Thai
PM

PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao said on Saturday he regretted that the summits related to the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been postponed, but he
understood the Thai government's decision.

As Thailand's friendly neighbor, China hopes Thailand's
domestic situation will return to normal at an early date, Wen said while
talking briefly with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who