The people-to- people organizations from China and ASEAN countries signed a five- year action plan here, capital of Brunei, on Thursday to deepen and promote their cooperation and exchanges.

The 2007-2012 action plan was signed by the China-ASEAN Association President Gu Xiulian, who is also vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, and representatives from friendly associations of ten ASEAN countries when the Second Conference on the ASEAN-China People-to-People Friendship Organizations (CACPPFO) closed here.

The plan is a follow-up plan of the declaration on China-ASEAN people-to-people friendship and cooperation signed in Beijing last year during the First CACPPFO there.

Under the plan, the people-to-people organizations from China and ASEAN countries will maintain regular bilateral exchanges of visit between their leaders and set up hotline links.

The plan stresses that the existing cooperation mechanism between people-to-people organizations of China and ASEAN countries needs to be strengthened and expanded.

Measures include recruiting more people-to-people organizations in the process and tapping more channels to enhance people-to- people contacts.

The plan also stipulates that people-to-people organizations of China and ASEAN countries will work together to promote tourism in various forms of non-governmental activities, and promote exchanges of culture and arts and encourage cooperation in the field of sports.

The two-day conference here also decided that the Third CACPPFO will be held in Indonesia next year.

Source: Xinhua