Ladies and Gentlemen,

Indonesia, being the largest country in ASEAN, has played a key role at many defining moments in ASEAN's development and made outstanding contribution to a stronger ASEAN through unity. As ASEAN's good partner, China highly commends Indonesia's efforts and rejoices at ASEAN's achievements.

All-round East Asian cooperation came into being in the wake of the Asian financial crisis in 1997. Today, in the face of the international financial crisis, China and ASEAN will further strengthen their relations, setting yet another example of mutual assistance and cooperation between developing countries. Under the principles of consensus, responsibility sharing and non-interference, ASEAN has promoted regional political stability, economic growth, and social progress in the ASEAN way. This is in keeping with the trend of peace, development, and cooperation of our time. It is a successful approach which has had an important and positive impact internationally. The ASEAN Charter has set the goal of establishing the ASEAN Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community by 2015. We have every confidence that ASEAN will enjoy greater cohesion, influence and competitiveness and we look forward to the day when the goal becomes a reality.

China has all along supported a stronger ASEAN through unity. We highly value and have worked actively to promote our relations with ASEAN. China was the first country to establish the strategic partnership for peace and prosperity with ASEAN and the first big country outside the region to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. We were also the first country to launch the FTA negotiation with ASEAN, and together, we have put in place the largest FTA among developing countries. All these endeavors accord with the trend of economic globalization and regional integration. They serve the interests of all ASEAN countries and China.

At the Seventh China-ASEAN Summit held in Bali in 2003, I stated China's commitment to a policy of securing an amicable, tranquil and prosperous neighborhood. Eight years on, people can see that China has kept its word. And China will remain committed to this policy no matter what changes may take place in the international landscape.

—China firmly supports ASEAN's leading role in regional cooperation. Over the years, ASEAN has developed its principles and practices of regional cooperation in keeping with the realities of East Asia. These principles and practices have proved effective and mature and should and must be followed. The existing regional cooperation mechanisms in East Asia, including 10+1, 10+3 and the East Asia Summit, should always develop with the "10" or ASEAN in the driver's seat. East Asian cooperation will enjoy sound development only if ASEAN continues to play its leading role. China's position on this issue is steadfast.

—China is committed to deepening practical cooperation with ASEAN. Last year, China became ASEAN's biggest trading partner. We launched the largest FTA among developing countries. And we have set the target of $500 billion in two-way trade by 2015. The Chinese Government will continue to increase imports of competitive products from Southeast Asian countries and encourage Chinese companies to invest in ASEAN countries with a view to expanding our common interests. In the next 10 years, we will speed up the realization of land transport connectivity between China and ASEAN countries and provide financial support to road, rail, communication, electricity and other infrastructure development in ASEAN countries through bilateral aid and loans, the China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund, commercial loans and other means. At the same time, we will, in the light of ASEAN's needs, increase input into maritime and air connectivity and take steady steps to promote facilitation and standardization of related areas in a bid to create better conditions for the free flow of goods, capital and information, people-to-people exchanges, and economic and social development in this region. Time will tell that the decision to set up the China-ASEAN FTA is one of strategic vision and will bring greater benefits to the businesses and people of both sides.

—China will actively promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges with ASEAN countries. People play an essential role in enhancing state-to-state relations and interactions between people are instrumental to stronger friendship. This year is the Year of China-ASEAN Friendship and Exchange. Over 40 large events have been planned for the year and are being implemented, covering culture, education, tourism, journalism, youth and other areas. Among them, the "Experience China" event has been launched in Indonesia. ASEAN will feature prominently in the Asian Culture Festival to be held in China. The two sides have drawn up the plan to increase the numbers of Chinese students in ASEAN countries and ASEAN students in China to 100,000 respectively by 2020. The spectacular natural beauty and the rich folk culture of China and Southeast Asia are our unique assets for promoting mutual understanding and friendship between our people. At the China-ASEAN Summit last year, a target was announced to have 15 million mutual visits between the two sides by 2015. We need to further tap the potential of cooperation in education and tourism, and encourage more two-way flow of students and tourists so that our traditional friendship will win greater popular support and be passed on from generation to generation.

—China will continue to assist the less developed countries in ASEAN with no conditions attached. Due to historical reasons, some ASEAN members have yet to get rid of poverty. China will, as always, support their development endeavor and do what it can to help them. China's support and assistance are sincere and selfless with no strings attached. As an old Chinese saying goes, "It is better to teach one how to fish than simply give him a fish." China has learned from its own development that to shake off poverty and backwardness once and for all, a country must rely on well-trained professionals and science and technology. The Chinese Government will increase input in capacity-building and human resources training to help the less developed ASEAN members gain faster progress towards their development goals.

—China stands ready to work with ASEAN to maintain regional security and stability. History tells us that peace is a blessing while chaos a scourge. There is no denying that there are some disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in this region. We need to adhere to the principle of good-neighborliness and equal consultation, and work tirelessly for proper solutions to these issues through bilateral channels. China disapproves of any attempt to play up or create tensions and make the issues bigger and more complicated. We are firmly against the use or threat of force. Over the years, China and ASEAN members have made important contributions to maintaining the security of and unfettered access to the international shipping lanes. These contributions have been widely recognized. China will continue to honor its due responsibilities and obligations. China wants to work more closely with ASEAN to tackle such non-traditional security threats as terrorism, transnational crimes, natural disasters and communicable diseases, and foster a peaceful and harmonious social environment.

—China supports efforts to steadily push forward East Asian cooperation and maintain its openness. Openness and transparency are the source of vitality for regional cooperation. East Asian cooperation has always been open and non-exclusive since its very beginning. In recent years, the East Asian region, including ASEAN, has become the most dynamic and fastest-growing region, with rising status and influence on the world economic stage. To involve countries and regions outside the region in East Asian cooperation is a natural choice that conforms to the trend of economic globalization. China welcomes all proposals that are conducive to regional stability and development, and supports the participation of the United States, Russia, the European Union and other countries and organizations in the East Asian cooperation process. It is important to note that the independence and diversity of East Asia must be respected. And in advancing East Asian cooperation, we should follow a step-by-step approach. We should start with the easier tasks before moving on to the more difficult ones. The priority now is to bring into full play the role of the existing cooperation frameworks, including 10+1, 10+3, and China, Japan and the ROK, and at the same time explore other cooperation models consistent with the characteristics of the region.