TO:    Foreign and local press

FROM:   The State Council Information Office

SUBJECT:  Sino-ASEAN economic cooperation: an update on the progress of the establishment of a Sino-ASEAN Free Trade Area; introduction to the second China-ASEAN EXPO and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

WHEN:   10:00 AM, Thursday, September 15, 2005

WHERE:  Briefing Hall of the State Council Information Office, 225, Chao Yang Men Nei Da Jie, Beijing, China

SPEAKERS:  Mr. Fu Ziying, assistant minister from the Ministry of Commerce, and Mr. Li Jinzao, vice secretary of the CPC Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

CONTACT:  86-10-6559 2311

NOTE: Please use the new press card issued by the State Council Information Office. In the interest of convenience, please forward any questions you might have to the following: By email: Notice@scio.gov.cn, By fax: 86-10-6559 2311.

(China.org.cn September 13, 2005)