国内英语新闻:7th China-ASEAN Expo opens to provide new opportunities, witness fruits of CAFTA

"We will work with ASEAN to deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen communication and coordination on major regional and international issues, promote sound and fast development in our respective countries, and contribute to peace, stability, development and prosperity of Asia," Jia said.

"We live at a time of accelerated adjustment in the international political and economic landscape and major opportunities in the development of Asia," Jia said. "The future and destiny of China and ASEAN countries are increasingly closely linked with each other."

Jia stressed that China would continue to pursue the policy of building friendship and partnership with neighbors and following this policy guideline, strengthen strategic mutual trust with ASEAN.

Indonesian Vice President Boediono also addressed the opening ceremony, saying that China and ASEAN together constitute an influential powerhouse in the world's economy.

Boediono said that the realization of the CAFTA marked a new era of China and ASEAN's strategic partnership and a milestone in the regional economic integration.

"China is the full-fledged largest trading partner of ASEAN, while ASEAN also emerges as the biggest destination of Chinese investment," Boediono said, addding ASEAN is expecting more investment inflows from China.

Boediono also said that the Expo would undoubtedly open new doors to opportunities for cooperation, which would mold ASEAN and China into a stronger economic entity in the "ever competitive global market."

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

CAEXPO was initiated by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the 7th China-ASEAN summit in 2003, in a bid to promote the establishment of CAFTA and common prosperity.