ASEAN-China forum forges new ties

ASEAN-China forum forges new ties

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Senior ASEAN and Chinese officials announced plans on Thursday to bolster ties through a range of economic, science and technology projects.

The announcement came at the end of a two-day meeting here of the ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee, seen as a key pillar in ties between the regional grouping and Beijing.

The meeting was the second since China became a formal Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) dialogue partner in 1996. The first was held in Beijing in 1997.

Since 1997 China has allocated US$700,000 to fund various joint projects, of which $300,000 has been spent, officials said.