| Transportation co-op key to China-ASEAN ties |
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| Monday,October 29,2007 Posted: 09:37 BJT(0137 GMT) xinhua |
Cooperation in transportation is a major factor in trade and economic development in China and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said in Nanning on Sunday.
China and the ASEAN have achieved substantial progress in their cooperation in shipping, maritime affairs, road traffic, inner river shipping, air traffic and railways.
This contributed to the rapid growth in trade between China and ASEAN countries, Zeng said during a meeting with transportation ministers from the ten ASEAN countries who are here to attend a two-day forum on China-ASEAN port development and cooperation.
Statistics show trade between China and the ASEAN surpassed 160 billion U.S. dollars in 2006, a rise of 20 times compared with 15 years ago when China and the ASEAN forged dialogue relations.
Of the total, some 100 billion U.S. worth of goods were carried through ports and shipping. |