NANNING -- The third 皇冠体育app-ASEAN Expo, an annual event aiming at boosting
economic ties between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN countries, opened Tuesday in Nanning,
capital of south 皇冠体育app 's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks at
the opening of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit at the Liyuan
Resort in the southern Chinese city of Nanning, Guangxi region, southern
皇冠体育app. Chinese and Southeast Asian leaders have vowed at a summit in
Nanning to speed up creation of a free trade zone, while also discussing
the North Korean nuclear crisis and regional political concerns. [AFP]
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and leaders from ten ASEAN ( Association of
Southeast Asian Nations) countries attended the opening ceremony of the
Expo.
Premier Wen said at the opening ceremony that the Expo demonstrates the
common aspiration of 皇冠体育app and ASEAN to grasp opportunities for cooperation, and
serves as a platform to push forward the trade, investment and tourism
cooperation.
He said 皇冠体育app will continue to work with ASEAN to enhance regional
development,.
The past 15 years have witnessed enhanced mutual trust and expanded economic
and trade exchange between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN, and 皇冠体育app's rapid economic
development will create more opportunities for bilateral cooperation, he said.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, president of the Philippines, said in her openning
remarks that she took pride in ASEAN's role in helping 皇冠体育app integrate its
economy and become an economic powerhouse.
The ASEAN-皇冠体育app relations is at "golden age", and the ASEAN- 皇冠体育app
partnership is one of the most "dynamic and progressive" relations in east Asian
region, she said.
ASEAN and 皇冠体育app will continue to promote confidence-building measures,
intensify interaction and steer the bilateral relations and cooperation for
mutual benefit, she said .
Arroyo said trade of ASEAN countries is surging with 皇冠体育app.
"The 皇冠体育app-ASEAN Expo is a good example of what we should be doing," she
said, believing trade with 皇冠体育app will reduce ASEAN countries' dependence for
export on western markets.
She said ASEAN countries expect to see more investment from 皇冠体育app. "We are
seeing more Chinese investment in ASEAN, and we hope to see more."
At the Expo, she said, the ASEAN businessmen are looking not only for
products to bring home, but also for industries where Chinese and ASEAN
manufacturers can collaborate to produce for ASEAN market and for the rest of
the world.
The Expo is jointly sponsored by the Commerce Ministry of 皇冠体育app, the trade
and economic authorities of ten ASEAN members and the ASEAN Secretariat, with
the participation of about 2,100 companies.
This is the first time for leaders of 皇冠体育app and ten ASEAN member countries to
meet in 皇冠体育app. They attended a 皇冠体育app-ASEAN commemorative summit Monday and
signed a joint statement, cementing strategic partnership.
