Wen's trip to Laos very fruitful, China's FM says

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's three-day trip to the Lao capital of Vientiane is "very fruitful," Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told reporters on the special plane back to Beijing on Tuesday.

During his 50-hour stay in Vientiane, Wen attended 27 activities, proposed 21 initiatives on Sino-Lao relations and East Asian regional cooperation while 12 documents were signed or adopted, according to Li, who accompanied the premier.

The first outcome of Wen's trip is that Sino-Lao friendship was strengthened and friendly cooperation is promoted, Li said.

Li recalled that Wen raised four proposals for more cooperation between China and Laos, including maintenance of high-level exchange, deepening trade and economic links, more cooperation on non-traditional security sectors and regional affairs and continue to exchange experiences on state governance.

Wen's proposal on linking economic technology assistance with enhancing Lao's own ability for development has a "guiding significance" for economic technology cooperation among other developing countries, Li said.

Besides his official visit to Laos, Wen also attended the sixth leaders' meeting of China, Japan and South Korea, the eighth leaders' meeting between ASEAN and the three countries (10+3) as well as the eighth ASEAN-China (10+1) leaders' meeting.

At the 10+1 summit, Wen raised 10 proposals and his speech at the event was applauded and aroused resonation among ASEAN leaders, Li said.

"Many leaders said that China is a responsible nation, a trustworthy partner and its development will bring benefits and create opportunities for ASEAN," Li added.

On Monday, a bunch of agreements and documents for cooperation were signed by ASEAN and China. Furthermore, all the ASEAN members recognized China's full-market status.

Li said the success is an outcome of joint efforts by ASEAN countries and China, adding that "it manifests China-ASEAN relations have achieved significant progress and entered a new phase."

Wen said during the 10+3 summit, participants agreed that establishing an East Asian community is a long-run goal of the summit, and the process requires unremitted efforts while the ASEAN should play a leading role.

The establishment should follow the principles of building common ground, controlling speed, laying a solid foundation, being open and transparent, according to Li.

Wen also proposed to do research for an east Asian free trade area, to establish a mechanism of joint scientific research, to hold the Asian art festival and the conference of east Asian cooperation study, as well as to promote the maritime security cooperation, Li said.

Wen's proposals are far-sighted and practical, and have considered the concerns of all parties, thus got good feedback from the leaders of the other nations, Li said.

Wen stressed Japan, South Korea and China should focus on the general situation of the east Asian cooperation and be aware of their own responsibilities to the region, and try to get win-win cooperation, Li noted.

Wen suggested to enhance the cooperation on investment and media among the three countries, to set up a forum in Tianjin to promote the cooperation of Bohai area, and to hold regular dialogues.

The Japanese and South Korean leaders gave a positive feedback for Wen's proposals. A report evaluating the trilateral cooperation and an action strategy has been passed during the meeting, which outlined the cooperation in the future, Li said.

During the meeting, Wen also held bilateral meetings with leaders from over ten countries including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and other countries, and exchanged views on bilateral relations and areas of common interests, and have reached a lot of consensus, Li said.

The foreign minister said Wen visited Laos and attended the ASEAN related meetings with a goal of mutual benefit, cooperation and common prosperity, and demonstrated China's peripheral foreign policy of treating the neighbors as friends.

Wen's visit helped to reach the goal of advancing strategic partnership between China and Laos, promoting cooperation among ten plus three countries, as well as among China, Japan and South Korea.