On the afternoon of June 21, 2004, foreign ministers of China and the 10 countries of ASEAN held an informal meeting in Qingdao, China. The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia Hor Namhong. ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong was also present at the meeting.

The foreign ministers exchanged views on international as well regional issues. The two sides agreed to have their representatives to the United Nations (UN) to conduct regular consultations. They discussed the current situations in Iraq, holding that the UN should play a leading role in the reconstruction of Iraq. Both sides support the efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. ASEAN complimented the active and important role of China in promoting the six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula.

The foreign ministers exchanged views on Asian regional cooperation, especially East Asian cooperation. The two sides agreed to achieve the long-term objective of realizing East Asian Community through the 10+3 cooperation mechanism and supports holding an East Asia Summit at a suitable time. China reiterated that it supports the major promoting role of ASEAN in East Asian cooperation.

The foreign ministers welcomed China to hold the Third Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Qingdao, China on June 22, 2004. They held that ASEAN and China might play an important role in deepening and expanding Asian cooperation, including promoting the development of Asian bond markets from the perspectives of both supply and demand.

All the foreign ministers held that the current bilateral, sub-regional and regional arrangements are part of the efforts to promote the multi-lateral cooperation of the whole region.

They also held that efforts should be continued to promote the adoption of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia as a code of conduct for handling relations between the different countries in this region. The Chinese side reiterated the willingness to sign the Protocol to the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone at an early date. In view of China's permanent membership of the UN Security Council, ASEAN expressed high appreciation for that stance.

The foreign ministers agreed to effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea step by step so as to maintain the stability of South Sea region and promote South Sea cooperation.

They also agreed to formulate the Action Plan for Promotion of China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership in order to implement the Joint Declaration on the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, which was signed by leaders of the two sides in October 2003. The action plan will be approved by the China-ASEAN Leaders' Meeting to be held in Laos in November 2004. The foreign ministers further agreed to formulate a comprehensive framework for the five China-ASEAN priority cooperation areas, namely agriculture, information and communications technology, human resources development, development of the Mekong River and mutual investment, as well as for other areas such as small and medium-sized enterprises, public health, science and technology.

The foreign Ministers believe that the construction of a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area conforms to the common interests of both sides, and therefore appreciate the efforts made by the China-ASEAN Trade Negotiation Committee, holding that the work of the committee has fully reflected the strong commitment by the two sides to promote the negotiation process and is conducive to the early conclusion of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area negotiations.

The foreign Ministers expressed satisfaction with the latest developments of efforts of some ASEAN countries to accede to the World Trade Organization and support for their early entry. They called upon Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to accede to the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

China reiterated its support for ASEAN integration process, including the establishment of ASEAN Community (ASEAN Economic Community, Security Community as well as Social and Cultural Community) and the ASEAN integration initiative. The two sides held that efforts should be made to enhance cooperation in development of the Mekong River and the ASEAN Eastern Growth Area, Mid-West development and North-Eastern rejuvenation, so as to promote common development.

The foreign ministers held that to maintain the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits conforms to the common interests of different countries in the region. The Chinese side expressed appreciation for ASEAN members' reiteration of their commitment to adhering to the one-China policy.

The foreign ministers expressed satisfaction with the significant progress in expanding and deepening China-ASEAN relations. The two sides agreed to continue to boost mutual understanding and expand consensus through the current mechanism, which will be conducive to deepening the China-ASEAN strategic partnership.