The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has declared that it now recognizes China as a full market economy.

This is the first such declaration from the 10-member organization and came at the eighth summit between ASEAN and China during the signing of a trade agreement between the parties.

Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai, together with the trade ministers of the ASEAN countries, signed the agreement.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who is in Vientiane attending the ASEAN meetings and visiting Laos, witnessed the signing ceremony.

Together with the 10 ASEAN member states, over 20 countries have now recognized China's full market economy status.

ASEAN is made up of Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2004)