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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday delivered a speech entitled "Join Hands to Create a Better Future for China-ASEAN Relations" at the summit marking the 15th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue. The full text of the speech is as follows: Join Hands to Create a Better Future for China-ASEAN Relations Dear Colleagues, Today, we, the leaders of Fifteen years ago, the opening of dialogue process between In the political field, mutual trust is growing. Economically, we are moving towards greater integration. In just 15 years, our trade grew by 15 times, from less than US$8 billion in 1991 to over US$130 billion in 2005. By the end of last year, ASEAN countries had set up close to 30,000 investment projects in We enjoy extensive cooperation in priority areas. We have decided to advance bilateral cooperation in all areas in a comprehensive way for the period of 2005 to 2010 and have identified ten priority areas, i.e. agriculture, information industry, human resources development, mutual investment, We extend mutual support in addressing issues of public security. When the Asian financial crisis and major emergencies or natural disasters occurred, such as SARS, the avian influenza and the China-ASEAN friendship and cooperation have contributed to economic and social progress in our respective countries and made life better for our peoples. Moreover, our cooperation has facilitated regional integration, raised the competitiveness and international profile of our region and promoted peace and prosperity in From the impressive growth of China-ASEAN relations in the past 15 years, we can draw the following conclusions: First, peaceful development is the prerequisite for the growth of China-ASEAN relations. We both firmly pursue a policy of good neighborliness and friendship, see each other as cooperative partners and take other's development as an opportunity, not a threat. We are both committed to peace and stability and we both work for prosperity and well-being of our peoples. That is why our relations have become a model of harmony and common development among countries. Second, equality and mutual trust are the foundation of China-ASEAN relations. We respect and treat each other as equals and endeavor to develop consensus by seeking common grounds while putting aside differences. With the overall interests and the strategic importance of our relations in mind, we have addressed each other's concerns with sensitivity and handled issues in bilateral relations appropriately. This has enabled our relations to stand the test of volatile changes in the international environment and move towards maturity. Third, win-win cooperation is the goal for China-ASEAN relations. Basing ourselves on our respective national conditions and long-term development needs, we have enjoyed mutual understanding, support and help in our joint effort to meet the challenges posed by economic globalization as well as traditional and non-traditional security threats. We have expanded exchanges and coordination and broadened our common interests. Indeed, we have embarked upon a new path of promoting mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Fourth, people's support is the driving force behind China-ASEAN relations. Our cooperation helps reduce poverty, narrow development gap, speed up growth and deliver a better life for our peoples. We have endeavored to deepen mutual understanding and friendship among our peoples, thus creating enormous popular support for China-ASEAN friendship, and this is the inexhaustible source of strength for growing our bilateral ties. Dear Colleagues, In the four decades since its establishment, ASEAN has made remarkable progress in strengthening itself through unity and grown into an important regional and global force for peace and development. The " We in Dear Colleagues, To consolidate and enhance China-ASEAN friendship and cooperation is our shared objective. We should seize the opportunity to strengthen and enrich our cooperation and explore new ways to usher our bilateral relations in a new stage. To this end, I propose that we take the following steps: First, enhance strategic coordination. We should maintain regular high-level exchange of visits and expand links between governments, parliaments and political parties to increase mutual trust. We should keep close coordination and cooperation on major regional and international issues and ensure that ASEAN remain at the core of East Asia cooperation and that 10 + 3 serve as the main vehicle in Second, enrich bilateral cooperation. We should consider signing a follow-up agreement on expanding economic and trade ties as well as the relevant institutional arrangement, on the basis of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between Third, ensure common security. We should expand military dialogue and exchanges, conduct and institutionalize defense cooperation, continue to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and promote joint development of the Fourth, foster closer people-to-people exchanges. We should enhance cooperation in science and technology, culture and education and sports, strengthen links between social groups, media, and educational and research institutes, conduct regular cultural, art and sports events and increase exchanges between local communities. Young people are our hope and future. They should be encouraged to work in each other's countries as volunteers to deepen mutual understanding and friendship and this will enable our friendship to pass on from generation to generation. Today, we are opening a new page in China-ASEAN relations, and we have full confidence about our future. Let us redouble effort to lift China-ASEAN strategic partnership to a higher level, enhance development of East Asia and promote peace, security and prosperity both in Thank you. (Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2006)
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