On October 21, 2011, the 8th China-ASEAN Business & Investment Summit with the theme of "deepening regional cooperation for common prosperity" was opened in Nanning, Guangxi. Premier of the State Council Wen Jiabao delivered a speech titled Deepening Cooperation for Common Prosperity to the opening ceremony.
On behalf of the Chinese government, Wen first of all extended warm congratulations on the summit. He said that this year is the year of friendly exchanges between China and ASEAN as well as the 20th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. The bilateral ties have completed the historic development from an all-round dialogue partnership to a partnership of good-neighborliness and mutual trust and then to a strategic partnership over the past two decades. China is devoted to developing relations with ASEAN and firmly supports the leading role of ASEAN in East Asia cooperation. China is committed to deepening the pragmatic cooperation with ASEAN. It is ASEAN's largest trade partner and ASEAN has become China's third biggest trade partner. China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation is in the most dynamic and productive historical period.
He pointed out that Asia's status and role are rising as profound changes take place in the global economic landscape. Both China and ASEAN are the most vigorous economies in the world and stand at a critical moment of development and transformation. To capitalize on the historical opportunities and promote the sustained, stable and relatively fast economic growth, we must step up regional economic and trade cooperation. At present, top priority should be given to the following tasks in order to lift the bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a higher level.Firstly, we should develop the free trade area. The establishment of China-ASEAN free trade area will enable the two sides to complement each other with advantages in a wider range of areas and at a higher level. China is willing to increase imports of competitive products from ASEAN member states and build the China-ASEAN Commodity Trade Center in Nanning which will serve as an exhibition and trade platform and a base of logistics between both sides.Secondly, we should promote connectivity aggressively. We will work closely with ASEAN to increase inputs in the connectivity between China and relevant ASEAN member states, create enabling conditions for the free flow of goods, capital and information and movement of people and boost economic and social progress of the region. Thirdly, we should expand investment cooperation. The Chinese government welcomes businesses of ASEAN member states to invest in China, especially in the central and western regions. We also encourage Chinese companies to expand investment in ASEAN. Fourthly, we should deepen regional economic cooperation. China will boost business participation in the East ASEAN Growth Area, the Greater Mekong and the Pan- Beibu Gulf subregional cooperation, provide strong financial, technical and market support and promote the emergence of several economic growth poles.China is ready to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN to deepen existing regional financial cooperation and enhance the region's capacity of coping with international financial risks. Fifthly, we should broaden cultural exchanges. We should take advantage of the "China-ASEAN year of friendly exchanges" to continue with the cooperation on culture, education, tourism and youth and try to achieve the target of 15 million person-times of personnel exchanges by 2015.
He stressed that it is an unswerving diplomatic policy of the Chinese government to consolidate the strategic partnership oriented towards peace and prosperity and push forward the mutually beneficial all-round cooperation with ASEAN. China's development will bring opportunities to ASEAN while ASEAN's prosperity conforms to the interest of China. We are willing to join hands with ASEAN member states to open a bright future of mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity between China and ASEAN.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Myanmar Vice President U Tin Aung Myint Oo, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources of Brunei Yahya, Minister of Trade and Industry of Singapore Lim Hng Kiang, Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry Maglaya, Indonesian Assistant Minister of Industry and Trade Muchtar and ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan attended the opening ceremony.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Hun Sen said that the sustained and rapid growth of the Chinese economy has made major contributions to the recovery of regional economy and helped ASEAN to walk out of the impact of global financial crisis earlier than other regions.
He added that ASEAN-China free trade area should be implemented successfully and favorable policies should be used to promote the bilateral economic and trade relations in order to deepen the regional cooperation and handle challenges together.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Party Secretary Guo Shengkun.Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Wan Jifei addressed the event. 1,500 participants, including officials of the Chinese government and governments of ASEAN member states, representatives of regional and international organizations, business delegates, experts and scholars of China and ASEAN attended the opening ceremony.
The Summit is hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and co-hosted by the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN-China Business Council.