Premier Zhu's Southeast Asian Trip Hailed as a Success

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 06, 2002

Premier Zhu's Southeast Asian Trip Hailed as a Success

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Premier Zhu Rongji's "short but fruitful" Southeast Asian trip has brought China's relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to a new level, Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday.

Zhu attended the first Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Economic Co-operation summit on Sunday. The following day he took part in the sixth summit between ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the China-ASEAN summit.

Before that, Zhu embarked on an official visit to Cambodia, which Wang also labelled a success. Zhu returned to Beijing Tuesday morning.

Wang, who was travelling with Zhu, said China has launched overall co-operation with ASEAN to establish a free-trade area, develop the Mekong River basin and discuss non-traditional security issues.

The Framework Agreement on China-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Co-operation has laid a legal basis for the China-ASEAN Free-Trade Area by defining its target, scope, measures and timetable.

Wang said the signing of the agreement, a new breakthrough for bilateral relations, serves the common interests of both sides and is conducive to deepening East Asian co-operation.

China issued a country report about its participation in the development of the Mekong River basin at the first GMS summit, showing its support for the ASEAN integration process that is aimed at narrowing development gaps among its members.

Wang said it can be anticipated that the whole development of the Mekong River basin will be more vigorous with China's overall involvement.

At the China-ASEAN summit, the two sides issued a joint declaration on co-operation in non-traditional security issues, opening new channels for bilateral co-operation.

China-ASEAN relations further progressed by the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties on the South China Sea.

"Our stance on the South China Sea has been clear and persistent, that territorial disputes should be solved through peaceful bilateral negotiations," Wang said.

On Zhu's visit to Cambodia, Wang said it has enhanced Sino-Cambodian traditional friendship, increased consensus and expanded co-operation.

Zhu's visit to the country was the first by a Chinese premier in 42 years.

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