Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with his counterparts from 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Cebu on Thursday.

 

During the meeting, Li and his ASEAN counterparts highly evaluated the new development of Sino-ASEAN relations of friendship over the past one year. They said the China-ASEAN Summit for memorizing the establishment of dialogue partnership between the two sides, which was held in November last year in Nanning, China, consolidated and upgraded the strategic partnership between the two sides.

 

The foreign ministers agreed to further cooperation between China and ASEAN and to implement the agreements and joint communiqué made in Nanning by the leaders of China and ASEAN countries, in order to strengthen political trust and deepen economic and trade relations, as well as open cooperation fields in non-conventional security cooperation, and push forward dialogue in the social and human fields.

 

Li also reiterated China's support to the efforts of ASEAN countries to build a regional community and the integrity process of the latter.

 

During a working lunch of foreign ministers of ASEAN countries, China, South Korea and Japan, Li said the cooperation between ASEAN countries and their partner countries of China, South Korea and Japan have taken in more meaning while the mechanism for carrying out such cooperation has become more comprehensive in system.

 

Li said China appreciates the role ASEAN is playing in cooperation among East Asian countries and backs ASEAN's cooperation with China, South Korea and Japan as the main channel for pushing forward the cooperation of East Asian countries.

 

Li also said China wishes ASEAN, China, South Korea and Japan can carry out more cooperation in the fields of political security, social development and personnel exchanges at the basic level of the society, in order to consolidate the base for such cooperation.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2007)