Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Zhang Qiyue conveyed her government's congratulation on the 43rd anniversary of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday, August 9, 2010, pledging to continue efforts in developing free trade pact.
"We are sincere about the relationship with ASEAN and keep supporting the process of ASEAN Integration," Zhang told Xinhua at the sidelines of the anniversary celebration held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
Zhang said that China's relationship with ASEAN has been improved rapidly in recent years, particularly this year with the implementation of ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
"Eight months after that, the world's largest free trade zone has show a great effect as the trade value between two sides hiked sharply. Both of us agreed that the free trade zone benefit both of us. Thus, ASEAN countries have given high appreciation on the zone," Zhang said.
The free trade pact took into effect since Jan. 1 this year.
Realizing that it requires more time for completion, she said that China and ASEAN are eager to do their bests to accelerate the construction of the economic architecture.
Besides that, Zhang also conveyed support on the integration of ASEAN members into a single community by 2015. "We will continue our acts in supporting ASEAN to complete its integration process," she added.
Meanwhile, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan highly appreciated the supports from China in terms of the ASEAN Integration.
"China has been very very generous, and very proactive in supporting this process," he said.
Surin concluded the works of ASEAN in the past year as a very busy year to accomplish the targets and promises. He said that besides China, ASEAN also established free trade zones with Australia, New Zealand and India this year.
Meanwhile, its free trade zones with Japan and Republic of Korea were expanding.
Furthermore, he said that the ASEAN members had also accomplished an important economic target.
"Six ASEAN countries brought down all their tariffs to zero. That is a quiet accomplishment on our part. Trade value between us have been increasing from 26 percent to 30 percent, and would eventually grow higher when we have zero tariffs on ourselves," he added.
On the political side, Surin said that ASEAN countries have became more cohesive, eager to set up more integration with other regions in further architecture forms.
"We are working together to drive what we called new evolution of East Asia. We certainly feel it, it is coming. The East Asia community of nations will be working together on many issues, and contributed to regional building, regional cooperation," he said.
The 43rd anniversary of ASEAN, themed "Bridging Markets, Connecting People", was commemorated on Monday in a solemn celebration attended by ambassadors of member countries to ASEAN, dialogue partners and aspiring partners.(XINHUA)
