China's new ambassador presents credentials to Surin Pitsuwan

New Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Yang Xiuping presented credentials to ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan on Monday.

During the talk following the presentation of the credentials, Surin extended welcome to Yang as the new Chinese ambassador and highly praised the positive growth in volume of trade between ASEAN and China and the steady development of bilateral relations.

Yang, who is China's third and also the first resident ambassador to ASEAN, said China's deployment of a permanent mission to ASEAN reflects the importance of relations with the Southeast Asian group.

"I'm honored to be the first resident Ambassador of China to ASEAN," said Ambassador Yang, adding that her Mission would like " to serve as a bridge of communication, linkage of cooperation, and a messenger of friendship, to promote ASEAN-China strategic partnership to a new height."

The two leaders updated each other on ASEAN-China cooperation, and pledged to work closely to further strengthen the strategic partnership. Both the Secretary-General and the Ambassador are optimistic that total two-way trade will surpass the 500 billion U. S. dollar mark by 2015.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced the plan to establish Chinese Mission to ASEAN on the 14th China-ASEAN Summit which commemorated the 20th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations in November last year.

Yang arrived in Jakarta on July 27. Prior to this assignment, Yang severed as ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives.