On October 24, 2009, the 12th China-ASEAN Summit (10+1) was held in Hua Hin, Thailand. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council and the leaders of ASEAN countries attended the summit, which was chaired by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The two sides reviewed the joint efforts to tackle the international financial crisis and other challenges faced by the two sides over the past one year, expressed the will to stay in the same boat and seek for common development, and reached broad consensus on deepening comprehensive cooperation.

Wen said that China and ASEAN countries are linked by mountains and rivers, have strong friendship with each other, and share extensive common interests. In face of serious challenges brought about by the international financial crisis, China and ASEAN should help each other, strengthen cooperation, and promote common development in the fight against the crisis. In April, the Chinese government announced a series of measures and initiatives to show the resolve and confidence of China and ASEAN to meet and overcome the challenges together, such as the establishment of China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund totaling USD 10 billion, the provision of USD-15-billion credit support for ASEAN countries, and the provision of special assistance up to 270 million yuan for the less-developed countries in ASEAN. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA), which is expected to complete by 2010, will become another important milestone in the history of relations between the two sides. The current relationship between China and ASEAN is featured by stronger mutual trust, closer ties and more effective cooperation.

Wen pointed out that with arduous efforts, China and ASEAN countries basically maintained the financial stability. The economic situation started to stabilize and turn upward on the whole. Bilateral trade was recovering. As a close neighbor and a strategic partner of ASEAN, China will always stay together with ASEAN countries through thick and thin and move forward side by side by ASEAN countries. To this end, Premier Wen proposed the following:

First, giving play to the role of China-ASEAN FTA. 1) Strengthening the advocacy and training on the policies, laws and regulation governing FTA and helping businesses to make good use of preferential policies of FTA. China is ready to host the China-ASEAN FTA Forum next year and work together with ASEAN to build a business portal website for China-ASEAN FTA. 2) Establishing economic cooperation zones in ASEAN countries and constantly expanding China's investment to ASEAN. 3) Protecting intellectual property rights, eliminating technical barriers to trade, and establishing a unified system of animal and plant entry-exit inspection and quarantine system.

Second, speeding up infrastructure construction. China and ASEAN should agree as soon as possible on the priority projects in the Strategic Plan for ASEAN-China Transport Cooperation, reach an agreement on the Memorandum of Understanding on China-ASEAN Customs Cooperation and sign the China-ASEAN Air Transport Agreement as early as possible so as to build an interconnected infrastructure network in the region. The first phase of fund raising for the China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund up to one billion U.S. dollars has been completed. Investment out of the fund may be launched within the year. China has decided to increase preferential loans up to 6.7 billion U.S. dollars in the total USD-15-billion credit offered to ASEAN countries so as to intensify the cooperation between China and ASEAN in infrastructure construction.

Third, deepening cooperation in agriculture and rural areas. China and ASEAN should actively push forward the China-ASEAN plan of action for the improvement of comprehensive grain production abilities and help ASEAN to upgrade its food production level. China and ASEAN should implement the China-ASEAN Rural Development Promotion Plan and help ASEAN countries to enhance their comprehensive capabilities for rural development.

Fourth, promoting sustainable development. China and ASEAN should adopt the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Strategy and strengthen cooperation in such areas as biodiversity conservation, ecological protection, clean production, environment-friendly industries, new energy and renewable energy. China will provide training for 100 environmental officials from ASEAN countries in the next three years.

Fifth, strengthening social and cultural exchanges. China is ready to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN in such arenas as prevention and control of influenza A(H1N1), defense, culture, education, tourism, combating transnational crimes, and expedite the construction of the China-ASEAN Center.

Sixth, promoting multi-tiered regional cooperation. China supports the ASEAN integration process and the leading role of ASEAN in regional cooperation. China will set up a permanent body to actively promote the development of the Mekong sub-region, the economic cooperation between China and the East ASEAN Growth Area and the Pan-Beibu Gulf economic cooperation.

Wen Jiabao raised the initiative of developing the plan of action for the implementation of the Joint Declaration on China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity for the year 2011-2015 so as to uplift the China-ASEAN relations to a new level.

The leaders of ASEAN countries once again congratulated China on the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of new China and tremendous achievements made by China, made positive comments on the substantial progress with the ASEAN-China relations, and highly appreciated China for upholding the good-neighbor policy and being committed to strengthening cooperation with ASEAN. They agreed that China had supported and assisted ASEAN countries in overcoming difficulties and coping with challenges with its practical actions. China is an important force for the maintenance of regional financial and economic stability and the promotion of peace and development. The leaders of ASEAN countries agreed with the new cooperation initiatives raised by Premier Wen Jiabao and hoped to maintain political dialogue and deepen mutual political trust with China. They hoped to take the opportunity of the establishment of the ASEAN-China FTA to strengthen economic and trade cooperation and personnel exchanges. They hoped to push for more practical results with the cooperation and exchange in finance, infrastructure construction, disease prevention and control, environment, and culture. They hoped to advance the reform of international economic and financial systems and safeguard common interests of all countries.