China to disburse $5m for ASEAN

China to disburse $5m for ASEAN

DENPASAR, Bali: The People's Republic of China will disburse
US$5 million to strengthen its relationship with the members of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to support
human development programs.

Abdul Rahman of the Directorate General of ASEAN Cooperation
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that with the
funds, to be provided over a five-year period, ASEAN countries
could accelerate national development and decrease the wide gap
in developmental rates between them.

He was speaking after the meeting of The Asean-China Joint
Cooperation Committee (ACJCC) in Nusa Dua, Bali.

The cooperation is aimed at establishing a common
understanding between ASEAN and China through "people-to-people
contact" programs, he said.

The ACJCC focuses on developing cooperation in such sectors as
agriculture, human resources, information and technology,
telecommunications, transportation and tourism.

It also encourages mutual investment between China and ASEAN,
and the development of Mekong River valley. -- Antara