China-Asia Seminar for Economic and Administrative Officials BeginsThe first China-Asia Seminar for Economic and Administrative Officials held its opening ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday.The month-long seminar is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) and the Foreign Ministry. Attended by over a score officials from the economic sectors of eight Asian countries, the seminar is expected to promote exchanges between officials in China and other Asian countries and to seek new approaches for bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Vice-Minister of MOFTEC Sun Guangxiang stressed the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation between Asian countries, as Asian countries are all faced with the common task of developing their economy and improving people's living standards. China's trade and economic cooperation with other Asian countries has witnessed major development in recent years. China' s trade volume with its 25 neighboring Asian nations hit 125.35 billion US dollars last year, rising 14.6 percent over that in 1998, and the total volume in the first four months this year reached 48.67 billion US dollars, up 37.7 percent. |
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