Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council attends the 13th ASEAN-China Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. This is a group photo of the participating leaders

On October 29, 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council attended and addressed the 13th ASEAN-China Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Premier Wen said regardless of the changing international situation, the deepening mutual political trust and the increasingly close strategic communication and collaboration between China and ASEAN have contributed to regional peace and stability. The two sides joined hands to tackle the unprecedented international financial crisis. China-ASEAN free trade area was completed as scheduled. Bilateral trade and investment experienced tremendous growth. Areas of cooperation were expanded. Dialogue mechanisms were improved. People-to-people and cultural exchanges were deepened.

Wen pointed out China-ASEAN relations have withstood the tough tests and have even moved further ahead. This is attributable to the fact that the two sides have abided by the principles and spirits outlined in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, treated each other with respect and amity, and strived to seek for common ground; that the two sides have supported each other and work closely with each other to advance regional cooperation in East Asia; that the two sides strived to explore development paths suited to each other's respective conditions and keep up with the tide of the times: change, openness and inclusiveness. China cherishes the long-term friendship with ASEAN countries and would like to be a good neighbor, friends and partner of ASEAN countries. The two sides should, with peaceful development as the theme and in the spirit of friendly cooperation, join hands to earnestly execute the second five-year plan of action. In this end, Premier Wen proposed the following:

First, promoting sustainable, healthy and rapid growth of the economic and trade relations between China and ASEAN. The goal is to increase bilateral trade to USD500 billion by 2015. China would like to establish one economic and trade cooperation zone with each ASEAN member state within five years.

Second, making good use of the loans provided by China and China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund to improve the interconnection between China and ASEAN.

Third, advancing the openness and integration of financial and capital markets in an orderly fashion, safeguarding financial stability in the region, and providing diversified financial services for the expansion of economic and trade cooperation.

Fourth, expanding and enhancing agricultural cooperation in the region. China would like to work together with ASEAN countries to build cross-border animal and plant disease prevention, control and monitoring stations, crop seed testing stations, and agricultural technology demonstration centers. China would like to continue training agricultural talents for ASEAN countries, send agricultural experts to ASEAN countries, and help ASEAN countries upgrade the level of agricultural development.

Fifth, increasing input in sustainable development and jointly coping with challenges such as climate change, poverty, and natural disasters.

Sixth, further deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the people and strengthening exchange and cooperation in such fields as culture, education, and youth. 2011 is identified as the China-ASEAN Friendly Exchange Year.

Wen said next year marks the 20th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. Looking ahead, we have to cooperate and upgrade China-ASEAN strategic partnership to a new level.

ASEAN leaders said China has always been ASEAN's active and firm partners. ASEAN has benefited greatly from the relationship with China. China played an important role in regional cooperation. The ASEAN side fully supports the important initiatives and proposals raised at the summit. ASEAN is willing to work with China to deepen bilateral relations and make new contributions to the peace, cooperation and development in East Asia region.

The summit adopted and issued the second five-year plan of action to implement the joint declaration on ASEAN-China strategic partnership for peace and prosperity. The summit also adopted and issued the ASEAN-China Leaders' Joint Statement on Sustainable Development.

After the summit, Wen and ASEAN leaders attended the opening ceremony of the China-ASEAN Virtual Center website.