Special Report: China-ASEAN Expo

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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao poses in the opening ceremony of the Commemorative Summit marking the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Oct. 30, 2006.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) and heads of ten ASEAN countries have group photos taken prior to the Commemorative Summit marking the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Oct. 30, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    NANNING, Oct 30 (Xinhua) -- The Commemorative Summit marking the 15th Anniversary of the Dialogue Relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was opened in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Monday.

    Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in his opening remarks that over the past 15 years, relations between China and ASEAN have evolved from removal of misgivings to commencement of dialogue to enhancement of mutual trust and to the final establishment of strategic partnership.

    "Relations between China and ASEAN have never been as good as they are today," he said.

    Wen said the two sides have greatly enhanced mutual political trust, conducted fruitful trade and economic cooperation, made steady progress in building free trade area and expanded exchanges and cooperation in all fields.

    China-ASEAN relations are a "fine example" of friendly exchanges and cooperation between countries in this region, and have brought real benefits to the peoples of China and the ASEAN countries, Wen said, adding that the relations also made important contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world as a whole.

    He said the purpose of the summit is to look back and sum up the achievements and experience of China-ASEAN relations in the past 15 years and together chart the course for future cooperation.

    "I will be happy to work with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other colleagues to make our meeting a fruitful one, linking the past with future and raising our strategic partnership to an even higher level," he said.

    Arroyo, president of the Philippines that holds the rotating presidency of the ASEAN, said in her opening remarks that the summit is more important than ever, and an "important milestone" for the ASEAN and the world.

    The ASEAN would like to deepen the size of the ASEAN-China free trade agreement, she said, adding that the agreement will help the economies grow and strengthen peace and security in the region.

    Arroyo stressed that the relations between China and ASEAN have never been "better and stronger." The 15-year development of the relations brought the two sides less poverty and more prosperity.

    The summit has provided an important flat form for the leaders to discuss economic and security issues, and help "bind the regions together and strengthen solidarity in time of crisis," she said.

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