On 24 October 2009, Leaders of the ASEAN countries and China participated in the 12th ASEAN — China Summit at Dusit Thani Hotel, Cha-am. Gist of the discussion as follows:
- The Leaders noted that by 2010, tariffs on almost all goods traded between ASEAN and China would be eliminated. This — together with the recent signing of the ASEAN-China Investment Agreement — serves as a milestone in ASEAN-China relations. The meeting also noted that bilateral trade had increased more than three folds over the past 6 years from 60 billion USD to 192 billion USD in 2008, they urged both sides to fully utilize the FTA.
- In this connection, the Leaders shared their views on the need to promote knowledge and awareness of the FTA, particularly among the private sectors, as well as training. China noted that it would organize a forum on China-ASEAN FTA to develop an FTA business portal, and also establish economic cooperation zones in ASEAN member states and encourage Chinese companies to invest there. In addition, both sides should also promote cooperation in the protection of intellectual property, removal of trade barriers and establishment of a consolidated system for sanitary and phytosanitary standards inspection.
- On development of connectivity between ASEAN and China, ASEAN welcomed China's initiative to establish the 10-billion USD China-ASEAN Fund on Investment Cooperation and the 15-billion USD Commercial Credit to support infrastructure development in ASEAN. They therefore welcomed in particular Chinese Prime Minister's statement that the fund raising for the first lot of one billion USD of the Fund is close to completion and should be available with in a year, and that ASEAN could contact its fund management company to file for project investment, and that China had decided to increase the part of concessional loan of its Commercial Credit from 1.7 billion USD to 6.7 billion USD.
- On transport cooperation, China also proposed that both sides hold consultation on priority projects for transport cooperation and jointly plan and build transport networks.China looked forward to concluding an MOU with ASEAN on customs cooperation to further facilitate trade and expressed its wish to negotiate an air service agreement with ASEAN.
- On other areas of cooperation, both sides also agreed to further cooperate in the areas of affordable medicines, including the development of vaccines for Influenza A (H1N1) and traditional medicines as well as in other areas of common interest such as food security, including on increasing food productivity, energy security, telecommunication, environmental protection, rural development and education. They also shared the view on the importance of enhancing political and security cooperation to promote maritime security and combat transnational crime.
- China reiterated its support for ASEAN to play a leading role in regional cooperation. It is currently considering setting up a permanent agency in ASEAN and would initially set up an ASEAN affairs office in its Embassy in Jakarta.
- Given that the ASEAN-China Plan of Action to implement the strategic partnership 2005-2010 is near completion, both sides shared the views that a thorough review should be undertaken on its implementation and that effort be made to develop a plan for the next five years.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th
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