The Commemorative Summit marking the 15th Anniversary of the Dialogue Relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was opened in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Monday.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said in his opening remarks that over the past 15 years, relations between China and ASEAN have evolved from removal of misgivings to commencement of dialogue to enhancement of mutual trust and to the final establishment of strategic partnership.

"Relations between China and ASEAN have never been as good as they are today," he said.

Wen said the two sides have greatly enhanced mutual political trust, conducted fruitful trade and economic cooperation, made steady progress in building free trade area and expanded exchanges and cooperation in all fields.

China-ASEAN relations are a "fine example" of friendly exchanges and cooperation between countries in this region, and have brought real benefits to the peoples of China and the ASEAN countries, Wen said, adding that the relations also made important contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world as a whole.

He said the purpose of the summit is to look back and sum up the achievements and experience of China-ASEAN relations in the past 15 years and together chart the course for future cooperation.

"I will be happy to work with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other colleagues to make our meeting a fruitful one, linking the past with future and raising our strategic partnership to an even higher level," he said.

Arroyo, president of the Philippines that holds the rotating presidency of the ASEAN, also delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2006)