China, ASEAN should enhance coordination, cooperation and exchanges, Chinese premier

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has offered Monday four suggestions on the development of China- ASEAN relations, which are expected to help much in furthering the relations and cooperation between them.

First, the two sides should enhance strategic coordination, said the premier at the Commemorative Summit Marking the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations.

"We should maintain regular high-level exchange of visits and expand links between governments, parliaments and political parties to increase mutual trust," he said, urging the two sides to seize the opportunity to strengthen and enrich cooperation and explore new ways to usher their bilateral relations in a new stage.

China and ASEAN, the premier said, should keep close coordination and cooperation on major regional and international issues and ensure that ASEAN remain at the core of East Asia cooperation and that 10+3 (ten ASEAN nations plus China,Japan and the Republic of Korea) serve as the main vehicle in East Asia cooperation.

Second, the two sides should enrich bilateral cooperation, said the premier.

The two sides should consider signing a follow-up agreement on expanding economic and trade ties as well as the relevant institutional arrangement, on the basis of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between China and ASEAN.

At the same time, he said, the Agreement on Trade in Goods should be fully implemented and negotiation on trade in service and investment should be accelerated to speed up the process of establishing the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

"We should press ahead with the construction of the Kunming- Singapore Railway and the Asia highway network, launch energy cooperation and advance result-oriented cooperation in the ten priority areas," he said.

Third, the two sides should ensure common security, for which Wen said that the two sides should expand military dialogue and exchanges, conduct and institutionalize defense cooperation, continue to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and promote joint development of the South China Sea."

"China supports the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Southeast Asia and is ready to sign the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone at an early date," said Wen.

"We should also step up cooperation on cross-border issues concerning counter-terrorism, transnational crimes, maritime security, rescue operation and disaster relief," he said.

Fourth, the premier said, the two sides should foster closer people-to-people exchanges.

Source: Xinhua