ASEAN, China Seek More Cooperation

The Secretary-General of ASEAN recently paid a courtesy call on the Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Yang Jiechi in Beijing to discuss ASEAN-China’s dialogue partnership and other issues of mutual interest.

 

"China-ASEAN cooperation has been mutually beneficial. Through the years, our relationship in all areas has flourished and with the full implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area on 1 January 2010, we can expect faster and larger increase of trade, investment and tourism between us," said Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan to the Foreign Minister.

 

Addressing the Conference, Dr Surin said that "Together with ASEAN and India, China is a major engine of growth for the global economy now. We in ASEAN have an operating principle: When China grows, ASEAN grows with it.”

 

ASEAN-China combined GDP now stands at US$ 6.6 trillion and a combined Foreign Direct Investment of more than US$ 183 billion or 16.4 % of global FDI in 2008. Trade has tripled between 2003 (US$ 59.6 billion) and 2008 (US$ 178.1 billion).