China
Chinese premier attends regional summits
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Source: CCTV.com | 11-21-2007 08:28
Special Report: Premier Wen visits Singapore |
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) attends the 11th the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Summit in Singapore on Nov. 20, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)
Premier Wen Jiabao continues his tour in Singapore, where he's attended a number of meetings with leaders from the South East Asian nations, as well as the Republic of Korea and Japan. Consolidating regional integration and interaction was the catch phrase of the day.
Wen Jiabao's Tuesday was meetings, meetings, and more meetings.
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At the summit between leaders of China and South East Asian countries, the Chinese Premier proposed areas to elevate partnership.
He suggested intensifying dialogues for deeper political trust, and consultations on the South China Sea issue.
He also called for upgrading business ties, and speeding the building of a China-ASEAN free trade zone.
Also on his list were cooperation in non-traditional security fields and social, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges.
Wen Jiabao said the Chinese government supports the development of the ASEAN community and the region's integration.
ASEAN leaders said they want greater cooperation in the fields of communication, infrastructure, and public health.
Wen Jiabao also attended the ASEAN Plus Three summit, which brings together Southeast Asia with China, Japan and South Korea. The mechanism started ten years ago when the region was in the grip of the Asian financial crisis.
Wen Jiabao said the mechanism inaugurated the process of working together for common development, fostered a model of cooperation of equal participation, and strengthened the competitiveness of the region as a whole. He said all 13 countries should respect each other, promote common development, and explore a model of growth that suits the region.
Other participants stressed the importance of building trust, boosting trade, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development.
They issued a joint declaration, which set out guidelines for regional cooperation for the coming decade.
