The Chinese government's proposals for strengthening cooperation with ASEAN show that China remains fully confident about the prospects of China - ASEAN cooperation.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with envoys of the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), reported Xinhua news agency.
According to China's proposals, the cooperation will be realised through the signing of an investment agreement, which would be conducive to the establishment of the China - ASEAN free trade area.
This demonstrates that that the series of relevant measures China has already decided to adopt will remain unchanged and that China has full confidence in the future of China - ASEAN friendly cooperation, despite the postponement of ASEAN meetings.
Strengthening and deepening cooperation is the common wish of the two sides, and is also an important avenue for fighting protectionism and enhancing their ability to resist risks in the current economic circumstances.
As close neighbours, China and ASEAN countries have enjoyed increased cooperation in various areas. In the face of the global financial crisis, it has become the consensus of both sides that they should work together to ride out the present difficulties.
Expanded cooperation between China and ASEAN will help augment their ability to tackle the crisis.
The China - ASEAN free trade area, to be completed in 2010, will play an important and profound role in further strengthening China - ASEAN relations and boosting cooperation in the whole of East Asia, Xinhua said.