China and ASEAN leaders signed a joint statement here Monday upon conclusion of a commemorative summit for their dialogue relations, promising to cement their strategic partnership in the future.

The two sides agreed in the statement to further enhance mutual trust and understanding and match the depth and breadth of cooperation "with the objective of our strategic partnership" and to "further enhance peace, development and prosperity to the region."

China and ASEAN will work in concert to advance the strategic partnership, which would be a catalyst for dialogue relations between ASEAN and its dialogue partners and greatly contribute to regional peace and stability, said the statement.

Zhai Kun, an expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said "strategic partnership is the highest-level relations built between China and other countries and regions. The great efforts made by China and ASEAN to strengthen their strategic partnership illustrated that China- ASEAN diplomatic ties are becoming more mature."

He noted that China and ASEAN are getting to be closer and ASEAN's status in China's diplomatic strategies is constantly enhancing, thanks for 15-year-long unremitting efforts made by all parties and the favorable geographical links.

"Asia reinvigorated over past 15 years with three eminent characters, that is, China's rapid development, ASEAN's expansion and the constant development of China-ASEAN relations," he said.

SOUTHEAST ASIA NUCLEAR-WEAPON FREE ZONE

China supports and welcomes the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to establish a Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone, says the joint statement.

The statement said "ASEAN appreciates China's intention to accede to the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear- Weapon Free Zone and will continue to consult China on this matter, "

China's signing of the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear- Weapon Free Zone will bring an impact to other nuclear-weapon countries, said Han Feng, deputy director of Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies under Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

He said mutual trust between China and ASEAN has been further deepened. The nuclear-weapon free promise means security and stability of the region.

SOUTH CHINA SEA

The joint statement said "we are also committed to effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and work towards the eventual adoption, on the basis of consensus, of a code of conduct in the South China Sea, which would enhance peace and stability in the region.

"The promise made by the two sides will be conducive to regulating behaviors of each country in the region," said Han Feng.

FREE TRADE AREA

China and ASEAN are determined to establish a Free Trade Area ( FTA) by 2010 as scheduled, says the joint statement.

The FTA consists of trade in goods liberalization by 2010 for China and six traditional ASEAN members including Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, and by 2015 for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, according to the statement.

China and ASEAN pledge to work expeditiously towards agreements to progressively liberalize trade in services covering various sectors. Both sides plan to promote investments by creating a liberal, facilitative, transparent and competitive investment regime in China and ASEAN, the statement says.

The two sides will set up a China-ASEAN Center for Trade, Investment and Tourism Promotion.

According to the statement, China and ASEAN will cooperate in ensuring energy security, efficiency, and the development of alternative and renewable energy sources. They will also strengthen cooperation in finance, tourism and air transportation, and support the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community.

The two sides encourage further cooperation in sub-regional developments such as the development of economic cooperation zones in southwestern China and the Mekong Basin Development areas, it says.