Enhancing mutual political trust will provide an important basis and guarantee for the comprehensive development of China-ASEAN relations, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Monday.

In a speech at the sixth China-ASEAN Summit held here Monday, Zhu said the conclusion of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in South China Sea is important advancement of China-ASEAN relations that marks a higher level of political trust between the two sides and will contribute to regional peace and stability.

China appreciates and supports the purposes and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and remains positive on the TAC, Zhu said.

China would like to make concerted efforts with all ASEAN countries to promote an early accession by all five Nuclear Weapon States to the protocol to the Treaty on Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone, added the Chinese premier.

As to China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), Zhu said China's accession to the WTO has become an important pillar and stimulus to the East Asian economy.

Citing ASEAN's trade with China as an example, he said the exports from ASEAN countries to China increased by 27% on average and nearly 50 percent for some countries in the first three quarters of this year.

He promised that China will gradually increase its investment in ASEAN countries and make the investments a new and important factor for economic development in ASEAN countries.

The sixth China-ASEAN summit ended in Phnom Penh Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2002)