Chinese premier arrives in Laos for visit, ASEAN meetings

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on Sunday morning for an official visit from Nov. 28 to Nov. 30.

In a written statement upon his arrival at the airport, Wen said he is expected to have an in-depth exchange of views with the Laotian leaders on the enhancement of traditional friendship, good-neighborly relations of mutual trust, as well as the all-round cooperation between China and Laos.

Wen is visiting Laos for the first time as premier, and this visit is also the first of its kind for the key members of China's new leadership.

"I also hope to have a chance to contact the Laotian people and learn the unique culture of the country," Wen said.

He noted China and Laos are close neighbors and the traditional friendship is time-tested. The comprehensive and cooperative relationship has been furthered with increased political trust and sincere economic cooperation, he added.

"Continuing Sino-Laos relations is in conformity with the fundamental interest of the two peoples, and is conducive to regional peace and development," Wen said.

During his stay in Vientiane, Wen will also attend the eighth summit between ASEAN and China, and between ASEAN and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), as well as the sixth China-Japan-ROK summit.

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is made up of Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. China established strategic partnership with ASEAN in 2003.

Backgrounder: Chronology of Sino-ASEAN relations

July 1991 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen is invited to the opening ceremony of the 24th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, marking the start of formal contact between China and ASEAN. Since then, the Chinese foreign minister has been invited to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting every year.

July 1994 -- China attends the first meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand, as a consultative partner. At the meeting, Chinese Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen puts forward five principles for Asia-Pacific security cooperation.

April 1995 -- The first Sino-ASEAN consultation at vice foreign ministerial level is held in Hangzhou, China.

July 1996 -- The ASEAN Standing Committee elevates the status of China from consultative partnership to full dialogue partnership.

Dec. 1997 -- Chinese President Jiang Zemin attends the first "ASEAN+3" informal summit attended by leaders of ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea and delivers a speech entitled "Join Hands in Cooperation and Build a Future Together."

At the first ASEAN-China (ASEAN+1) informal summit, Jiang also delivers a speech, calling for forging a good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust oriented to the 21st century.

Nov. 2000 -- The fourth ASEAN+1 summit is held in Singapore. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji speaks positively of the relations between China and ASEAN and puts forward proposals for future cooperation in politics, human resources, high-tech, agriculture, trade, investment and infrastructure construction in the Mekong River Basin.

Nov. 2001 -- At the fifth ASEAN+1 summit in Brunei, the two sides agree on the establishment of a China-ASEAN free trade zone in the next 10 years.

Nov. 2002 -- Leaders of China and ASEAN sign the Framework Agreement on China-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Cooperation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, kicking off the free trade area process.

April 2003 -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attends the China-ASEAN leaders' special meeting on SARS in Bangkok. The leaders discuss ways of enhancing regional cooperation and vow to take effective measures to fight the epidemic.

Nov. 2003 -- At the ninth ASEAN summit in Bali, Indonesia, China accedes to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and sign a joint declaration on strategic partnership for peace and prosperity, which marks the beginning of a new stage in relations between the two sides.

Nov. 2004 -- The first Security Policy Conference of the ASEAN Regional Forum is held in Beijing. China pledges to participate more in regional security cooperation.

Nov. 2004 -- The first China-ASEAN Trade Fair is held in Nanning, China, which shows the enthusiasm and determination of China to forge and further improve ties with ASEAN members.