Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli addresses the opening ceremony of the 13th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 11, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
NANNING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said Sunday that China will push ahead to develop its friendly cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and together build a closer China-ASEAN community of common destiny.
China firmly supports the ASEAN Community, backs ASEAN's central role in regional cooperation and its expanding place in international and regional affairs, said Zhang while addressing the opening ceremony of the 13th China-ASEAN Expo in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Together with ASEAN, China is willing to look at bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, expand consensus and cooperation, promote the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and forge a closer China-ASEAN community of common destiny, he said.
Zhang proposed further integration of development strategies, and faithful implementation of the 2+7 Cooperation Framework and the third five-year action plan for China-ASEAN strategic partnership, which would promote inclusive development.
He called for advanced industrial cooperation and improvements to the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area to facilitate trade and investment.
Zhang called for better interconnectivity, which would benefit people on both sides, as well as improved finance cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
