国内英语新闻:China hopes to deepen East Asian cooperation through leaders' meetings in Hanoi

BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- China Thursday expressed its hope that East Asian cooperation would deepen through the upcoming series of leaders' meetings in Hanoi, Vietnam.

"China attaches importance to and actively takes part in East Asian cooperation. In the series of meetings, China will review with other countries the cooperation that has been carried out and discuss how to further promote the integration process of East Asian cooperation," said Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue.

Hu made the remarks at a press conference Thursday afternoon in which officials from the ministries of Commerce, Education and Finance briefed the press on Premier Wen Jiabao's scheduled attendance at the meetings.

The meetings, lasting from Oct. 28 to 30, will include: the 13th summit between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (10+1); the 13th summit between ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) (10+3); and the fifth East Asia Summit.

Wen will also attend a meeting with the leaders of Japan and the ROK.

Hu said China hopes the meetings would promote good-neighborliness and boost cooperation between China and the other Asian countries.

"During his visit, Premier Wen, together with participating leaders of other countries, will review the achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation, 10+3 cooperation, and East Asian cooperation, as well as cooperation concerning East Asia Summit. He will also elaborate on how to strengthen cooperation. We believe his tour will further consolidate China's good-neighborly relationships and expand reciprocal cooperation," he said.

"East Asian countries should enhance mutual understanding through dialogue and communication. They should also create the conditions for the sound and stable development of regional cooperation and bilateral relations," Hu said.

He also reaffirmed China's support for ASEAN's leading role in East Asian cooperation, saying he hopes the existing cooperation mechanisms serve the overriding goal of regional peace and prosperity.

On the economic and trade cooperation front, Director of the Asian Affairs Department of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) Lu Kejian said China hopes to work with ASEAN to steadily promote the development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) while expanding two-way investment.

"We will strengthen communication with ASEAN to ensure the stable development of bilateral trade, especially in the services trade. We will also continue to increase imports from ASEAN countries and boost investment. China welcomes ASEAN companies investing in China and will support Chinese companies to invest in ASEAN countries," he said.