On October 13, 2006, counsellor Tong Xiaoling of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, at the invitation of the International Press Center (IPC), gave a briefing for domestic and international journalists on the ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit to be held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Counsellor Huang Xingyuan of the Information Department of the ministry hosted the briefing.

Tong said that according to the agreement reached at the 9th ASEAN-China Summit the Commemorative Summit Marking the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations will be convened on 30 October, 2006 in Nanning, Guangxi. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council, Philippine President Arroyo, Sultan of Brunei Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesian President Susilo, Lao Prime Minister Bouasone, Malaysian Prime Minister Badawi, Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Soe Win, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Surayud, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong will attend the Commemorative Summit. The Third China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the Third China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) will be held concurrently.

Tong noted that the Commemorative Summit is a historic event in the China-ASEAN relations. Taking the opportunity of the 15th anniversary of the dialogue relations, Premier Wen and the leaders of the ten ASEAN member states will review the developments and successful experiences of the China-ASEAN friendly relationship and chart a course for the future development of the relations of the two sides. They will also exchange opinions on the international and regional issues of common concern and interest. Tong expressed confidence that the success of the Commemorative Summit will further consolidate and raise China-ASEAN strategic partnership and lift the bilateral relations to a higher stage.

Tong said that according to the agenda agreed by both sides the Commemorative Summit will open on the afternoon of October 30, 2006. Prior to the Summit Premier Wen and the ASEAN leaders will take group photos. After the Summit a signing ceremony on the Joint Statement of ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit will be held and the leaders will jointly meet the press, plant trees, attend a welcome dinner and then watch a gala performance. On the morning of October 31, Premier Wen and the ASEAN leaders will attend the opening ceremony of the third CAEXPO and the third CABIS.

Tong pointed out that as the most important political result of the Summit the Joint Statement of ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit will be signed by the leaders of the two sides. The document is the second joint statement between China and ASEAN after 1997 when the two sides issued the Joint Statement on the Good-neighborly Partnership of Mutual Trust. The document will review the development of China-ASEAN relations over the past 15 years from a commemorative and strategic perspective and outline the future bilateral cooperation. So far the two sides have conducted two consultations on the text of the statement and generally reached consensus.

Leaders of countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Burma, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam will also take the occasion of the Commemorative Summit to visit China.

At request Tong also answered questions of the Chinese and foreign journalists.