Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) and heads of 10 ASEAN countries have group photos taken prior to the Commemorative Summit marking the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on October 30, 2006. [Xinhua]

China, ASEAN ink joint statement

NANNING -- Heads of China and ten ASEAN countries gathered in Nanning Monday for a summit marking the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue relations, charting blueprint for future cooperation and stepping up efforts to build a free trade area.

"China-ASEAN relations have evolved from removal of misgivings, to commencement of dialogue, to enhancement of mutual trust, and to the final establishment of strategic partnership," said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in his remarks. [full text of Wen's speech]  

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attends the opening ceremony of the Commemorative Summit marking the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on October 30, 2006. [Xinhua]

China-ASEAN relations are a "fine example" of friendly exchanges and cooperation between countries in this region, and have brought real benefits to the peoples of China and the ASEAN countries, Wen said.

The premier said he would work with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who holds the rotating presidency of ASEAN, to make the summit "a fruitful one".

Arroyo said the summit is "a milestone" and "more important than ever", because open dialogue and trust between peoples and nations have never been more important than in today's world.

The ASEAN would like to enhance cooperation in building a free trade area with China, as the FTA will help the economies grow and strengthen peace and security in the region, she said.

The summit has attracted great attention from domestic and overseas media.

"The China-ASEAN summit will reap great results, bringing their strategic partnership to a new development height, for benefits of all related parties," Vietnamese newspaper People's Army said in an editorial Monday.

"In the context that ... ASEAN is looking forward to the establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2020, the summit is suitable for the two sides' leaders to discuss the future of their strategic partnership, " said the editorial.

China and ASEAN have agreed to build up a free trade area before 2010, which will realize free flow of goods, services and investment.

The free trade area will boast 1.8 billion consumers and a combined gross domestic product of US$2 trillion when completed, making it world third largest FTA after the European Union and the North American free trade area.

"Development of China-ASEAN bilateral trade is so fast that it already outpaced the growth of foreign trade in China," said Gao Hucheng, Vice Commerce Minister of China.

More importantly, the traded products between China and ASEAN are changing from raw products to industrial products, especially mechanical, electrical or high-tech products, according to industry insiders.