Chinese and ASEAN foreign ministers said in Kuala Lumpa Friday that they will make joint efforts to ensure the success of the 9th ASEAN-China Summit scheduled for Dec. 12, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official said.

Wang Donghua, deputy director-general of the Information Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua after Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his ASEAN counterparts held the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting 10+1) in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.

Li said the relations between China and ASEAN have made new progress, especially in the fields of economic and trade cooperation, anti-terrorism, law enforcement, agriculture, communications, information sector, tourism and customs.

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, established in 1967, groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Chinese foreign minister said that equal and mutual benefits, joint development, cooperative mechanism, consultation and innovation are common wealth of China and ASEAN countries.

ASEAN foreign ministers said ASEAN-China strategic partnership has been further strengthened in recent years, adding that both sides have achieved positive development in the areas of politics, economy and trade, which is conducive to regional peace and development. The ASEAN-China cooperation is a good model, they said.

Under the new international situation, they said, China and ASEAN will share more and more common interests. They should enhance mutual political trust, expand common ground and strengthen coordination in the world and regional affairs so as to promote regional peace and development.

Foreign Minister Li, who also attended the ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) Foreign Ministers' working lunch on Friday, said China support for East Asia cooperation to be developed through the existing ASEAN+3 mechanism.

The Chinese side reaffirmed its support for ASEAN's role as the major driving force in East Asia cooperation.

Source: Xinhua