BEIJING - The news media is crucial to promoting peace and development in Southeast Asia, a senior Chinese government information official told regional communications chiefs Wednesday.

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China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had built a comprehensive free trade zone amid the global economic downturn, said Wang Chen, director of the Information Office of China's State Council.

This had improved conditions for Chinese and ASEAN media to create a more favorable environment for peace and development, Wang said in a keynote speech at the Second Conference of China-ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information in Beijing.

"News media plays an important role in promoting further development of sustainable and healthy relations among China and ASEAN countries, as well as in communication, coordination and integration among ASEAN countries," said Wang.

Representatives from China and ASEAN countries discussed communication and cooperation in the field of information under the theme "Strengthening Information Exchange and Building Mutually-Beneficial Regional Relations."

They agreed that China and ASEAN faced common tasks of eliminating poverty and promoting economic growth.

Ministers responsible for information from China and ASEAN countries or their representatives, senior officials of the ASEAN Secretariat, representatives from embassies of ASEAN countries and departments of China's government and media attended the conference.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.