China and ASEAN have maintained a formal relationship for 15 years and Ong said he believed both sides could do more to further promote their bilateral ties.

"China is developing so fast, with an average growth rate of 10 percent per year. We believe that China's interests in ASEAN will continue to grow, especially as ASEAN can provide many natural resources."

"I think China can fulfill a lot of their needs in ASEAN. What we have to do is to achieve a win-win situation in which we can get more investments from China."

"For the next stage of our partnership, we hope to see more physical involvement by China in our industries and trade. A more extensive presence will make China's commercial relations with ASEAN more multifunctional and multidimensional."

Ong said China was a particularly important dialogue partner for ASEAN after it signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

"This is very important and encouraging. It means that China is committed to regional security and stability."

"Whatever differences we have -- we always have differences-- we don't have to take a confrontational position."

China was expected to contribute to the increased prosperity in Southeast Asia while the region could also contribute to China's efforts to develop healthy, good relations with the rest of the world, he said.

"Because, don't forget, Southeast Asia is very open. We (have) always (been) internationalized and cosmopolitan. We are like the window of the world," he said.

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