An agreement was officially reached yesterday in Beijing for enhanced co-operation between China and ASEAN countries on information and communications technology (ICT).

The Beijing Declaration came out yesterday during China-ASEAN ICT week.

"Co-operation between China and ASEAN in the area of ICT is very meaningful," Minister of Information Industry Wang Xudong said.

Government officials from 10 ASEAN countries have been participating in the event.

The agreement will deepen inter-government dialogue and exchanges between China and ASEAN nations in many areas including information and communication infrastructure, telecom services, human resources, network and information security, and investment and trade.

"ASEAN is a very important neighbour. We will continue to carry out extensive co-operation with ASEAN and consolidate our partnership," said Vice-Premier Huang Ju yesterday at the opening ceremony of ICT week.

Government statistics show that between 2001 and 2004,bilateral trade on ICT-related products registered growth of 52 per cent year-on-year.

Trade volume surpassed US$48.5 billion last year, accounting for 46 per cent of the total.

"ICT is one of our top priorities. We see huge potential in the area for China and ASEAN," said Huang.

China's telecom industry, for example, generated revenue of 518.7 billion yuan (US$62.5 billion) last year.

At the same time, according to Ministry of Information Industry figures, China has recruited a total of 647.2 million telephone subscribers and 94 million Internet users.

To promote mutual co-operation in the ICT area, China signed a memorandum of understanding with ASEAN on co-operation in information and communications Technology in October 2003.

Analysts believe further co-operation could be sought in areas like ICT infrastructure, new technology, human resources, networks and information security, to help improve the service to rural areas and to narrow the digital divide.

China is now carrying out many co-operative projects with ASEAN countries, such as construction of the ASEAN Mekong River Sub-regional International Information highway and training of 500 senior telecom managers for ASEAN.

Sources said that from June to November, China-ASEAN information and communications training courses will be held, focusing on the digital divide, solutions and mechanisms for the universal telecom service in rural areas and optical telecommunications.

"I believe the ICT co-operation is critical for China and ASEAN," said Ong Keng Yong, ASEAN's secretary general.

He emphasized the important role of the private sector in ICT .

Zhao Houlin, director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau of the International Telecom Union, said Asia has already surged to become one of the most eyecatching ICT markets in the world.

"We encourage more Southeast Asian countries to participate in the setting up of international telecom standards to enhance their influence in the international market," he said on the sideline of the event yesterday.

In another development, a website was also launched yesterday focusing on co-operation between China and ASEAN.

(China Daily May 13, 2005)