Premier Wen attends ASEAN plus three summit, makes 5-point proposal

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L,5th) attends the ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus Three (China, Japan and South Korea) mechanism in Singapore on Nov. 20, 2007.(Xinhua Photo)

Therefore, guided by the second Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation, "we should enhance political and security cooperation, deepen economic and financial cooperation, promote the cooperation in the fields of energy, environment, climate change and sustainable development, expand social, cultural and development cooperation, and promote common and coordinated development of East Asian Nations by establishing ASEAN Plus Three cooperation funds," they said.

The second Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation and the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan 2007-2017 were adopted at the ongoing summit.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus Three mechanism was established in the late 1990s, when ASEAN countries decided to enhance cooperation with other major economies of Asia.

The framework, initially focusing on economic cooperation, has expanded in recent years to sectors of politics, security, culture and other areas.

Leaders from China, Japan, South Korea and the 10 ASEAN countries meet annually to discuss cooperation and major international and regional issues.

Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Editor:Zhang Ning