Xi Jinping calls for connectivity between China, ASEAN

Vice President Xi Jinping on Friday called on China and ASEAN to work more vigorously to advance connectivity, saying that it is the important foundation for deepening trade and economic cooperation as well as personnel exchanges.

Xi made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 9th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit and 2012 Forum on China-ASEAN Free Trade Area in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

It is a measure of strategic importance that will promote intra-regional economic integration and enhance regional competitiveness, thus contributing to a sustained and steady growth of the regional economy, Xi said.

"China is ready to establish all-dimensional, in-depth and strategic connectivity with ASEAN. Currently, we are actively preparing for the establishment of the Chinese Committee on China-ASEAN Connectivity and will in due course set up interaction and institutionalized exchanges with relevant ASEAN agencies," Xi said.

He said China is ready to set up an investment and financing platform for connectivity, step up land connectivity with ASEAN countries, build maritime connectivity network and expand cooperation in such areas as ports, maritime logistics and port industries.