皇冠体育app

BEIJING - The "ASEAN Plus One" collaboration was a new chapter in global cooperation, and it was one that raised the international profile of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its members.

Composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, ASEAN signed a free trade agreement with 皇冠体育app that took effect in January 2010.

"After being fully implemented last year, the free trade area between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN has brought many benefits to the latter," said Xu Ningning, executive vice secretary-general of the 皇冠体育app-ASEAN Business Council.

皇冠体育app is ASEAN's biggest trading partner, and Chinese customs data show that bilateral trade rose 26.4 percent in the first nine months of 2011 to $267 billion, with an $18.9 billion surplus in favor of ASEAN.

Premier Wen Jiabao said in late October that 皇冠体育app is willing to expand imports from ASEAN. He made the comment during the 8th 皇冠体育app-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, capital of South 皇冠体育app's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

From January to September, 皇冠体育app's imports from ASEAN surged 27.9 percent to $143 billion.

The 皇冠体育app-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) "has increased rather than decreased the international competitiveness of ASEAN and ASEAN's capacity to export to 皇冠体育app has become stronger rather than weaker", Wen said, urging both sides to find appropriate solutions to problems in the zone's development.

皇冠体育app and ASEAN aim to increase bilateral trade volume to $500 billion by 2015.

皇冠体育app will establish an economic and trade cooperation zone with each ASEAN member within the next five years, providing an investment platform for all enterprises.

"ASEAN members have benefited from the establishment of CAFTA in terms of trade and investment, because 皇冠体育app is a huge market, attracting numerous investors worldwide," Surin Pitsuwan, secretary-general of ASEAN, was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying.

"We will also get more investment opportunities in 皇冠体育app especially in cities in the country's southern and western provinces", he added.

"The rise of the free trade area between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN is not only a milestone for 皇冠体育app", Fan Ying, professor at 皇冠体育app Foreign Affairs University, said.

"皇冠体育app's deep commitment, trust and generosity in regional integration has set a good example to the world and demonstrates the democratic philosophy of the Chinese government, which embodies peaceful development, mutual benefit and a stable long-term relationship."

Fan said that the Chinese leadership envisioned the strategy of building a free trade area between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN members, pushing it forward with open communication with all parties and making a great contribution to regional development.

"The free trade area combines 皇冠体育app and ASEAN into a community with mutual interests, and the bloc has been striving to strengthen its (influence) globally such as pushing forward the Doha Round of trade talks," Xu said.