The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Aug. 24 reviewed a bill raised by the State Council to ratify the third Protocol Amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, according to Xinhua.

Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai was entrusted by the State Council to brief the NPC Standing Committee on the basic information of the protocol.

“The protocol does not contradict the laws of China . It is in accordance with China 's foreign policy and national interests to ratify the amendment,” said Cui was quoted by Xinhua.

Ratifying the protocol will help exhibit China 's political support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and boost ties between China and the ASEAN.

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia was signed in February 1976.

The NPC Standing Committee approved China 's joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and its two previous amending protocols in 2003.

China ’s investment in ASEAN countries has significantly increased in recent years. By the end of this June, two-way investment between China and ASEAN amounted to about 80 billion USD. China is ASEAN’s largest trade partner while the bloc has surpassed Japan to become China ’s third largest partner./.