Chinese FM Hails Sino-ASEAN PartnershipForeign Minister Tang Jiaxuan expressed satisfaction with the new progress in the good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Friday in Bangkok.Speaking at the annual ASEAN and China dialogue meeting (ASEAN+ 1), Tang said the frequent exchanges of visits between leaders from both sides have vigorously promoted the Sino-ASEAN good- neighborliness and friendship. Sino-ASEAN Dialogue at all levels has further deepened the mutual understanding and confidence between the peoples of China and ASEAN countries, he said. He said that by issuing or signing framework documents governing the bilateral cooperation, the two sides have laid out a blueprint for cooperation in all areas in the new century. He said that he was pleased to see the increasing dynamic Sino- ASEAN cooperation with a good momentum in such areas as investment, finance, science and technology, agriculture, industry and other fields. The third batch of cooperation projects under the Sino-ASEAN Joint Cooperation Committee is progressing smoothly, with the personnel exchanging program and workshops on understanding modern China, remote sensing and transgenetic plants successively launched, he said. On security issues, Tang reiterated China's support to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty. He also noted that China and ASEAN countries concerned have pledged to settle their difference peacefully, and made notable progresses such as the signing of the China-Vietnamese land boundary treaty and China's active participation in discussing the formulation of a code of conduct on the South China Sea with ASEAN. The Sino-ASEAN Dialogue is part of the ASEAN+1, a series of meetings between ASEAN and each of its ten dialogue partners respectively. |
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