China and ASEAN pledge to advance their strategic partnership, which would be a catalyst for dialogue relations between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, says a joint statement issued onMonday.

 

The joint statement, entitled "Towards An Enhanced China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership," was inked by China and ASEAN countries following a China-ASEAN summit commemorating the 15th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue.

 

China and ASEAN believe that the achievements made in the past 15 years in their dialogue relations have been the result of adherence to the principles enshrined in important international treaties, including the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the Ten Principles of the Bandung Asian-African Conference, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, said the statement.

 

China and ASEAN will continue to be "fully guided by these principles", according to the statement.

 

China and ASEAN agree to further enhance mutual trust and understanding, and match the depth and breadth of cooperation with the objective of China-ASEAN strategic partnership, it says.

 

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to effectively implement relevant documents, and pledge to deepen collaboration in the ten priority areas, according to the statement.

 

According to the statement, ASEAN leaders highly appreciated China's continued commitment to support ASEAN's community building efforts. ASEAN welcomed China's contribution of US$1 million to the ASEAN Development Fund and China's funding assistance of US$1 million for the projects of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration, it says.

 

?The summit opened Monday afternoon in Nanning, capital of South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and leaders of the ten ASEAN members attended the summit.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2006)