China is ready to develop a strategic partnership based on peace and prosperity with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in Beijing on Thursday.

 

Li, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting Thursday night with ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong, who was here attending the "ASEAN Cultural Week," an event marking the beginning of the 8th Asia Arts Festival held in China.

 

Established in 1998, the Asia Arts Festivals received a total of 121 art groups from 22 Asian countries in its previous sessions. The theme of this year's festival is "Learn from each other, develop in harmony."

 

Li said China is ready to develop the partnership on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence and the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation signed in 1976.

 

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the dialogue mechanism between China and the ASEAN. Li said China and the ASEAN are "good neighbors", "good partners" and "good friends."

 

China hopes to further promote bilateral cooperation not only in trade and economy, but also in social, cultural, political and security fields, said Li.

 

On his part, Ong said China has played an important role in promoting unity and cooperation between ASEAN members, and he believes the Cultural Week would further enhance mutual understanding and friendship and lay a solid foundation for cultural exchange and cooperation between China and the ASEAN as well as cultural cooperation among the ASEAN plus three countries (China, Japan, South Korea).

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2006)