Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi
has vowed to unswervingly follow a policy of advancing friendly and
neighbourly relations in all fields and cooperation for mutual benefit
with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Yang was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying that China was ready to
enhance practical cooperation with the bloc during his talks with the
visiting ASEAN Secretary General, Surin Pitsuwan, on March 19.
“China is ready to enhance practical cooperation with the ASEAN and
would act on principles to set forth the framework of the free trade
zone between the two sides,” said the Chinese chief diplomat.
He also reaffirmed China’s willingness to work with ASEAN to promote
infrastructure interconnection, speed up socio-economic development and
environmental protection and expand social and humanitarian ties while
intensifying regional and sub-regional cooperation.
For his part, Surin described the ASEAN-China strategic partnership as of great significance to the ASEAN countries.
The ASEAN chief said the two sides should enhance cooperation in such
fields as investment, small and medium-sized enterprises and tourism as
well as social and human culture./.