China to enhance strategic cooperation with ASEAN

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday vowed to further beef up strategic cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Li made the remarks when meeting with some leaders of ASEAN countries in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The leaders of some ASEAN countries were invited to attend the opening ceremony of the tenth China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, which will be held from Tuesday to Friday.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN strategic partnership, said Li, adding that the partnership has become a model of good neighborliness and friendly cooperation.

Li called on Thailand to play a positive role in boosting China-ASEAN ties on Monday, making the remarks when meeting with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Li said China is ready to work with Thailand to enhance high-level exchanges and beef up cooperation in big projects involving transportation, infrastructure, energy and resources.

He called on the two sides to boost people-to-people exchanges and ensure bilateral cooperation to benefit the people of the two countries.

He expressed the hope that Thailand, as the coordinating country for China-ASEAN relations for 2012-2015, will push for greater progress in the development of China-ASEAN ties.

Yingluck said China is an important partner of Thailand. She said Thailand is willing to work with China to improve bilateral cooperation mechanism, so as to expand mutually beneficial cooperation.

She said the Thai side welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Thailand and expressed the hope that more Chinese tourists will visit her country.

Thailand will make all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in the country, she said.

She also pledged that Thailand will continue to play an active role in boosting ASEAN-China ties.

In the meeting with Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on the same day, Li said as good neighbors, China and Laos can further promote strategic coordination, economic cooperation and extensive cultural exchange, and speed up major projects on transportation, energy and agriculture, so as to lift China-Laos relations to a new level.

Li called on Laos to continue to contribute to China-ASEAN ties, and lay sound foundations for the upcoming East Asia Summit in Brunei in October.

Thongsing said the Laos-China cooperation is of great importance to the economic and social development of Laos.

He said Laos is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with China and coordination on international and regional affairs, implement projects of cooperation and enhance exchanges in law enforcement, security and cultural areas, so as to push forward the development of bilateral ties.

During the meeting with U Thein Sein, Myanmar President, Li said it is of great strategic importance to strengthen China-Myanmar friendship under the background of complex international and regional situation.

Myanmar is speeding up its economic and social construction, while China is accelerating the development and opening up of its southwest region, said Li, adding that the two sides enjoy complimentary advantages in location, markets and technology.

Li called on the two countries to make joint efforts to safeguard prosperity and security in border regions and push forward the long-term stable development of China-Myanmar relations.

As Myanmar will undertake the alternate chairing of the ASEAN in 2014, China hopes Myanmar will contribute to the smooth development of China-ASEAN relations, Li added.

U Thein Sein said the traditional friendly cooperation between Myanmar and China facilitates the development of both countries.

Myanmar appreciates China's support and assistance, said U Thein Sein, adding that his country is willing to boost strategic communication and expand reciprocal cooperation so as to promote better development of bilateral ties and ASEAN-China relations.

Li met with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Teo Chee Heanon Monday afternoon.

Li said China is willing to enhance cooperation with Singapore in the areas of scientific and technological innovation, ecological and environmental protection, finance and social management.

Teo said Singapore attaches great importance to the relations with China, noting that the country will deepen comprehensive cooperation with China and push for more achievements in bilateral cooperation and the cooperation between the ASEAN and China.

He called on the two sides to upgrade the level of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area(CAFTA) ,establish an investment and financing platform, conduct maritime cooperation and properly resolve differences, so as to push for greater development of China-ASEAN ties in the next decade.

It is the unswerving policy of the new Chinese administration to enhance strategic cooperation with the ASEAN, he said, noting that China will work with ASEAN countries to beef up solidarity and coordination and seek common development along the right track of East Asia cooperation.

The leaders invited to the China-ASEAN Expo include Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Myanmar President U Thein Sein, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.