BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman here on Wednesday hailed China-Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)ties after just-concluded meetings between senior Chinese and ASEAN officials.

Qin Gang told a daily press briefing that the ASEAN is a priority of China's foreign diplomacy with its neighboring countries, and supports the association's leading role in cooperation in East Asia.

The meetings, which concluded on Tuesday in Thailand, were co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Thailand's Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

Qin said the two sides discussed negotiating a good-neighborly treaty of friendship and cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, launching the negotiation to upgrade the ASEAN China Free Trade Area (ACFTA), setting up an Asia infrastructure investment bank, building the Maritime Silk Road in the 21st century, and enhancing defense and security cooperation.

The ASEAN side said the ASEAN-China relationship is the most dynamic one with its dialogue partners, Qin said.