The meeting, co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN-CCI) and organized by CCPIT Guangxi Sub-council and ASEAN-China Business Council Secretariat, attracted some 100 participants including presidents of National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of China and ASEAN and business council and enterprise representatives in the region.

The meeting witnessed the signature of Nanning Joint Declaration by National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of China and ASEAN countries.

The declaration says that the China-ASEAN National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of China and ASEAN member countries (CANCCI), as principal entities for the promotion of trade and investment, play a crucial role in strengthening the linkage among governments and enterprises, and promoting the enterprise cooperation and economic growth of all nations.

The declaration recalled and acknowledged their fruitful cooperation and achievements in such priority fields as economic and trade communications, information exchange, exhibition arrangement, and personnel training. It also took note of China and ASEAN CCIs' role in catalyzing the development of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) and China-ASEAN business cooperation.

Participants at the meeting are convinced of the solid foundation for the organizational cooperation of CANCCI, and agree in consensus to the promotion of a long-term, stable and sustainable cooperative relationship for China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) construction, guided by the principle of equality, mutual benefit, enterprise orientation and common development, according to the declaration.

The declaration agreed to hold annual working meeting of National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of China-ASEAN in conjunction with the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit with a view to promote the regional economic growth, and enhance the cutting edge of CAFTA in the international community through effective, concrete and expanded cooperation.

Participants at the meeting exchange their views on further enhancing the cooperation among chambers of commerce and industry in different countries in the region.

As an important exchange mechanism between China and ASEAN member countries, National Chambers of China and ASEAN countries should put forward new cooperation plans, improve their cooperation mechanism, enrich cooperation areas and develop more cooperation forms to create larger room for cooperation in the region and make greater achievements for the further development of CAFTA, said Wan Jifei, Chairman of CCPIT and Co-Chairman of ASEAN-China Business Council.

Wan said business chambers in different countries should take their comparative advantages to optimize the industry and product structure and to enhance the overall competitiveness of the whole region.

Local chambers of commerce and industry should also enhance their cooperation levels to help ASEAN enterprises to get more business opportunities in the development of China's western areas, in the uprise of China's middle part and in the rejuvenation of China's northeast areas and  at the same time help Chinese enterprises to find opportunities in these areas, the Greater Mekong Sub-Region and key investment areas in ASEAN region, according to Wan.

Wan also calls for cooperation among small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and high-tech enterprises in the region.

The ASEAN-China Business Council, as an important exchange mechanism, was established in November 2001, and is made up of leaders of CCPIT, ASEAN-CCI, nationwide chambers of commerce and industry in ASEAN countries and renowned entrepreneurs in the region.

Its previous three meetings were held in November, 2001 in Jakarta, Indonesia, December, 2003 in Yunnan, China and June 2004 in Rangoon, Burma respectively.

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Yuan Fang, October 18, 2005)