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China, ASEAN Strengthen Trade, Investment Links: Chinese Premier
Premier Zhu Rongji November 25 urged stronger trade and investment links between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Zhu said that the ever-closer economic cooperation and trade between China and ASEAN make it necessary for both sides to further facilitate unfettered exchange of goods, technologies, capital and information.
Addressing leaders from ASEAN member countries, Zhu suggested that China and ASEAN explore in the long run the establishment of a free trade relationship between them.
He said that China is now implementing the "going abroad" strategy, which encourages enterprises with a competitive edge to make investment and set up businesses abroad and helps them in terms of credit and insurance.
ASEAN countries may become one of the priority areas for Chinese enterprises to implement the "going abroad" strategy, the Chinese premier said.
In this context, the two sides may establish an expert group for China-ASEAN economic integration under the framework of the China-ASEAN Joint Committee of Economic and Trade Cooperation, he said.
The group will discuss how to strengthen economic relations, facilitate trade and investment and other issues of mutual interest, he said.
Premier Zhu was speaking at the summit between China and the ten ASEAN member countries -- Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore.
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