CRI听力：China-ASEAN Economic Ties Enter New Stage

The Fourth China-ASEAN Exposition opened on Sunday in the southern city of Nanning.

Political figures and business leaders from China and the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, are taking part in the event, along with more than 700 exhibitors.

Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 4th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, which runs parallel to the Expo.

Zeng Peiyan said bilateral trade and economic ties between China and ASEAN countries have entered a new phase. Trade between China and ASEAN surpassed 160 billion U.S. dollars last year, making them each other's fourth largest trading partner.

"Bilateral trade has kept a rapid growth momentum since the beginning of this year and total trade is expected to reach 190 billion U.S. dollars. The preset target of reaching 200 billion dollars by 2010 is likely to be fulfilled in 2008."

Zeng Peiyan said the figures indiicated the two sides have made "a firm step" in establishing a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

China and ASEAN countries, with a combined population of 1.8 billion, have a bright future for cooperation, because both their economies are highly complementary and developing rapidly, Zeng Peiyan said.

He also pushed for an early end to the talks on a China-ASEAN free trade area investment agreement in a bid to expand mutual investment. He promised China would increase its investment in ASEAN regions.

"The effort includes establishing several trade and economic cooperation zones in ASEAN countries to help Chinese enterprises to enter Southeast Asia, promote their local operations and contribute to the local communities."

Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan also called for sustainable development in Southeast Asia, noting that issues such as ecological conservation and climate changes concern all the people in the region.

"China and ASEAN countries should promote practical cooperation in the fields of the environment and in development and make unremitting efforts for sustainable development in Southeast Asia."

The theme of this year's summit is innovation and cooperation. Participants will discuss two main topics - service trade and financial cooperation, and trade and investment facilitation.