Today, I am very glad for the opportunity to be together with the nine ASEAN countries for the first time to discuss and exdplore the parternerships of friendliness and cooperation oriented towards the 21 century. First of all. I wish to express my warm congratulations to the AESAN ofr its 30th anniversary.

This meeting, I believe, will mark the beginning of a new stage of development between china and ASEAN countries.

With the purpose of engaging in active participation, broadening common ground, enhancing mutual trust and strenthening cooperation, I have come here to explore together with the ASEAN leaders the objectives and guidelines for the development of our future relations.

At this important historical juncture on the eve of the new century, we should approach and handle our bilateral relations from a long-ranged strategic perspective and ofrge china-ASEAN good neighborly partnership of mutual trust oriented toward the 21 century. This is not only in conformity with the trend of times and in the fundamental interest of china and ASEAN countries, but also facilitate the establishement of a just and rational new international order and the advancement of the lofy cause of peace and development of asia and the world at large.

Both the chinese and the ASEAN people are industrious and courageous people, full of wisdom. Since ancient times, they have created brilliant civilizations and built up fine cultural traditions full of oritental character in their own lands, thus making important contributions to the progrss of humanity. Joining together by mountains and rivers or facing each other across the sea, china and ASEAN countries have developed profound traditional friendship among the people in the course of their age-old contact and exchanges.

Profound changes have tken place in both china and ASEAN countries. Through century-long struggle and sacrifice, the chinese people won their national laberation and gave birth to the new china. With decades of efforts, they have built china into a socialist country with national prosperity. Through pertracted and arduous struggle, the people of ASEAN countries have also shaken off the yoke of colonialism, won national independence and scored commendable achievement in their course of nation building.

The time honored traditional friendship, similar historical experience and common desire for peace and economic development constitue an important basis both in history and at present for the enhancement of the good neighborly relations of mutual trust and friendly cooperation between china and ASEAN countries. China has on and on attached great importance to developing its relations with ASEAN and raising support of a positive role by ASEAN in regional and international affairs. In the past decade, china’s relations with each ASEAN country and ASEAN　organization has made considerable headway and reached a new level following the establishment of china-ASEAN partnership with full dialogue.

Looking into the 21 century, we are convinced that there lies an even brighter future for the development, prosperity, friendship and cooperation between china and ASEAN.