Premier Wen Jiabao today traveled to Bali, Indonesia, where he will attend the XIV Summit of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of dialogue relations.
Wen will attend a regional bloc which also includes the prime minister of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and the Sixth Summit of the East Asian countries.
Accompanying the Premier are Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, ministers of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping, Finance, Xie Xuren and Commerce, Chen Deming, among other authorities.
By that anniversary China on Tuesday issued a document citing the history, achievements and prospects of these links, which highlighted its contribution to socio-economic development, peace and stability both regionally and internationally.
The links between China and ASEAN, comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, have established a free trade zone for exchange of goods and services on January 1, 2010.
According to official statistics, 295,000 such transactions totaled $ 900 million from January to October, up 25.7 percent YoY.
At the end of its program in Indonesia, the Chinese premier will travel to Brunei for an official visit.