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