国内英语新闻:Chinese vice premier meets ASEAN leaders

NANNING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) - Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli on Monday met with leaders of six Southeast Asian countries who will attend the annal expo between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Nanning city, south China.

The 11th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will be held from Tuesday to Friday in Nanning.

When meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Zhang said Chinese President Xi Jinping and Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam last month have reached agreement on bilateral ties. China is looking forward to working with Singapore to tap new growth points of cooperation to push forward China-Singapore relationship.

Lee said Singapore is willing to work with China to develop interconnectivity and a modern service industry, to establish a new inter-governmental cooperation project in western China so as to promote the development of the area.

The two main Sino-Singaporean cooperation projects in eastern China -- Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City -- have achieved remarkable results in recent years.

When he met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Zhang said China will firmly adhere to friendly policy towards Cambodia, fully implement the agreement between the two countries' leaders and push forward bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, people-to-people exchanges and other fields.

China supports Cambodia in its independent choice of development path and is willing to work with Cambodia to address the challenges, said Zhang.

When he met with Lao Vice President Bounnhang Vorachit, Zhang said the two countries' leaders have reached important consensus on a comprehensive strategic partnership in a new situation. China is willing to maintain close high-level communication with Laos and promote bilateral cooperation in areas of railways, resources, energy and trade.

Bounnhang said that Laos-China cooperation in economic, trade and investment areas has played an important role in the economic and social development of Laos. The Lao side is ready to push bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.

When meeting with Myanmar Vice President U Nyan Tun, Zhang called on the two sides should safeguard each other's core interests, and carry forward the fine tradition of bilateral ties, he said.

Zhang called on the two sides to expand and deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, promote interconnectivity and upgrade bilateral ties. He also said China hopes Myanmar will continue to play its positive and constructive role in China-ASEAN cooperation.

U Nyan Tun said Myanmar attaches great importance to Myanmar-China relations. China is Myanmar's good neighbor, he said, stressing that Myanmar is willing to actively promote bilateral friendly cooperation and China-ASEAN ties.

When meeting with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn, Zhang said China respects the Thai people's choice and is ready to further strengthen communication and coordination with the new Thai government to push forward the bilateral relationship to a higher level.

The two sides should promote cooperation to achieve more practical results, Zhang said, calling on the two sides to push forward railway, law-enforcement and security, culture, education, science and technology and local-level cooperation.

During a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Zhang said that it is of special significance for China and Vietnam to strengthen unity and cooperation, seek common development and advance the course of socialism.

China is willing to earnestly implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two ruling parties, uphold the principle of good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, properly handle problems in order to promote bilateral ties on a healthy and stable track, said Zhang.

Zhang stressed China sincerely hopes Vietnam will pay high attention to China's major concerns. He called on the two sides to work together to promote bilateral all-round strategic cooperation so as to bring the two peoples tangible benefits.

Minh said Vietnam cherishes the friendship between the two parities and the two countries, is ready to work with China to actively implement the consensus of the leaders, properly deal with differences and promote development of the bilateral relationship.