China-ASEAN expo hoped to promote discussion on developing ties: FM

BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China hopes the upcoming summit between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will fuel their strategic partnership, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday.

"China sees ASEAN as a diplomatic priority," spokesman Hong Lei told a daily press briefing, saying that the two sides have promoted the developing world's biggest free trade area and produced a "golden decade" for economic and trade cooperation since the strategic partnership was established in 2003.

"China will continue supporting ASEAN's development and strengthen the strategic cooperation," the spokesman said.

He reaffirmed China is committed to sign a treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation with ASEAN, sustain a closer community of shared interests and common destiny in the region, and make joint efforts with ASEAN members to build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

China will as well further enhance people-to-people relations with ASEAN, Hong added.

The 11th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will be held from Sept. 16 to Sept. 19 in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao Vice President Bounnhang Vorachit, Myanmar Vice President U Nyan Tun, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will attend the opening ceremony.