Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sent a congratulatory letter to
Singapore, the country currently chairing the ASEAN (the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations), on Wednesday to celebrate
the bloc's 40th anniversary.
In his letter to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,
Premier Wen congratulated ASEAN nations on behalf of the Chinese
government and people, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of
the organization's founding.
In the past forty years, ASEAN has been making concerted efforts
to promote economic, social and cultural development among its
member states, protect regional peace and stability and push for
regional cooperation, and in all these fields it has made great
achievements, said Wen.
China has confidence in ASEAN, and hopes the bloc can fulfill
its commitment to creating a community with economy, security and
society as its three pillars by the year 2015, Wen added.
As ASEAN's good neighbor, good partner and good friend, China
will always stand beside ASEAN countries, promote neighborly
friendship, deepen regional cooperation, support ASEAN's
integration process, work with the bloc to broaden comprehensive
cooperation between the two sides, and jointly contribute to build
a better Asia, the Chinese premier pledged.
(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2007)
