The 4th Meeting of the ASEAN-China Business Council (CABC) was held in Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, today to discuss development and common prosperity.

The meeting attracted some 100 participants including presidents of national chambers of commerce and industry, as well as business council and enterprise representatives in the region.

It was co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN-CCI) and organized by CCPIT Guangxi Sub-council and ASEAN-China Business Council Secretariat.

It was held the day before the 2nd China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

The Nanning Joint Declaration by National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of China and ASEAN countries was signed at the event, saying they would play a crucial role in strengthening links between governments and enterprises and promoting business cooperation and economic growth.

Participants agreed to promote long term, stable and sustainable cooperative relationships to build the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), guided by the principles of equality, mutual benefit, enterprise orientation and common development, according to the declaration.

They also agreed to hold an annual working meeting in conjunction with the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit to promote regional economic growth and enhance the CAFTA in the international community.

Participants exchanged views on further enhancing cooperation among chambers of commerce and industry in different countries in the region.

Wan Jifei, CCPIT chairman and co-chairman of the CABC, said they should propose new plans and improve mechanisms to create more room for cooperation in the region and contribute more to the development of the CAFTA.

The ASEAN-China Business Council was established in November 2001 and is made up of leaders of the CCPIT, ASEAN-CCI, nationwide chambers of commerce and industry in ASEAN countries and entrepreneurs in the region.

Its previous three meetings were held in November 2001 in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 2003 in Yunnan, China and June 2004 in Rangoon, Burma.

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Yuan Fang October 18, 2005)