Stronger foundation boosts ASEAN ties

Trade last year between China, ASEAN nations rose 37 percent

BEIJING - Improvements to trade, investment and transportation will strengthen the foundation of the China-ASEAN free-trade zone, said top regional officials.

"China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are friendly neighbors and important strategic partners," said Chen Wu, vice-chairman of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.