China and ASEAN near free-trade zone deal
(Xinhua)Updated: 2007-01-15 14:22
In 2005, a trade agreement reduced tariff s on more than 7,000 ASEAN and Chinese products. Since then, trade between China and ASEAN countries has maintained steady growth, Wen said. Two-way trade reached US$160.8 billion last year, up 23.4 percent over the previous year.
Wen proposed that China and ASEAN nations should speed up talks on investment agreements and complete the China-ASEAN free-trade agreement as planned.
"I hope this will bring the China-ASEAN win-win cooperation and common development to a higher level," Wen said.
China proposed to strengthen cooperation between customs and inspection and quarantine authorities of the nations involved.
China also offered to host the first meeting of the China-ASEAN Ministerial
Consultation on Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine this year, the
Chinese premier said.
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