"We should keep developing the momentum of China-ASEAN ties and further expand and deepen our cooperation to better cope with the changed situation,'' Tang said at the annual ASEAN-China ministerial meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan.

He said the two sides should launch comprehensive negotiations on a common free trade area to promote economic integration.

Negotiations between China and ASEAN on forming a free trade area began at a working level in May this year. The third round of negotiations is currently under way in Thailand.

Tang said the planned free trade scheme could serve as a role model for promoting cooperation in East Asia. He said this made it imperative that the two sides give it their full support to ensure the smooth launch of the process.

The two sides also need to push forward the Mekong River Basin development project, which is a key area of China-ASEAN cooperation for the 21st century, he said.

Moreover, the minister said, China and ASEAN should cooperate more on security issues such as counter-terrorism and the fight against drugs.

The two sides established a cooperation mechanism on fighting illegal drugs in October 2000.

"The Chinese side is ready to cooperate with ASEAN in a concrete way to combat transnational crime on the basis of the statements and agreements reached with them,'' he said.

Cooperation should also be expanded in other areas such as agriculture, information technology, transportation and tourism, Tang said.

In a position paper distributed in the Brunei capital Thursday, China proposed a new security concept with mutual trust, mutual benefit, quality and coordination at its core.

The concept was outlined in a document issued to ASEAN members and a dozen other countries by the China delegation to the ASEAN Regional Forum.

The document said that China is vigorously seeking to settle disputes with its neighbors through peaceful negotiations. It said China has agreed on the land borders with most of its neighboring countries. Disputes over territory, on land and at sea, are no longer an obstacle to China and its neighbors cooperating, being good neighbors and building regional security together.

China sees economic exchange and interaction as an important avenue to lasting security in its area, the document said.

China believes that the key guarantee for Asian-Pacific security lies in a regional security framework featuring dialogue instead of confrontation, the document said. To this end, China has placed great importance on and taken an active part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

(China Daily August 2, 2002)