Stronger ASEAN ties
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Premier Wen Jiabao started an official visit to two Asian nations on Wednesday. It is his first official visit to Indonesia and his second in six years to Malaysia.
The trip speaks volumes about China's efforts to cement friendship and expand cooperation with its Asian neighbors.
As both countries are important members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Wen's tour will also contribute to closer China-ASEAN ties in an all-round way.
China has a long history of exchanges with the two countries and cherishes good-neighborly relations with them, and in recent years there has been a strong momentum in the rapid development of bilateral cooperation between China and the two Southeast Asian countries.
The first ASEAN member to establish diplomatic relations with China after ASEAN was established, Malaysia has become China's biggest trading partner among ASEAN nations. The two-way trade volume reached $74.2 billion in 2010.
China also enjoys healthy and robust bilateral ties with Indonesia, which is the largest economy in ASEAN, a member of the Group of 20, and ASEAN's current rotating chair. The two have established a dialogue mechanism at vice-premier level as well as other mechanisms to promote bilateral cooperation in economic, defense, maritime and cultural affairs.
The implementation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area at the beginning of 2010 has greatly boosted the bilateral trade between Beijing and Jakarta, with the volume reaching $42.75 billion in 2010, an increase of over 50 percent on the year before.
It is believed Wen's visit to Malaysia and Indonesia will help enhance more political mutual trust, build up the growth momentum of balanced, coordinated and sustainable trade, and deepen bilateral pragmatic cooperation in other areas, including maritime security, people-to-people exchanges, science, technology, culture and education.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the dialogue relationship between China and ASEAN. Over the years, the two have moved from a dialogue relationship to a relationship of strategic cooperation.
A responsible player in the regional and international arenas, China assumes its due responsibilities for regional security and stability in such areas as counter terrorism and maritime security. It never refrains from its commitment to expanding common ground and properly handling differences with its neighbors.
In an interview with media from the two Southeast Asian nations shortly before his visit, Wen said he believes there is a bright future for China's relations with Malaysia and Indonesia. His trip will be a golden opportunity for leaders on both sides to translate their political will into concrete actions.
The good momentum in Beijing's cooperation with Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta will exert positive impact on China-ASEAN relations, ASEAN integration and regional cooperation.
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