Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing the ASEAN-China Centre Between the Governments of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Government of the People’s Republic of China

MEMORANDUMOFUNDERSTANDING

ONESTABLISHING

THEASEAN-CHINACENTRE

BETWEENTHEGOVERNMENTS

OFTHEMEMBERSTATES

OFTHEASSOCIATIONOFSOUTHEAST

ASIANNATIONSANDTHEGOVERNMENT

OFTHEPEOPLE'SREPUBLICOFCHINA

The Governments of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations comprising Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (hereinafter referred to collectively as "ASEAN" or "ASEAN Member States") and the Government of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "China") (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Contracting Parties" or "Parties"; or singularly as "Contracting Party" or "Party");

RECALLING the thrust of economic cooperation between ASEAN and China which both sides can mutually benefit;

MINDFUL of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between ASEAN and the People’s Republic of China signed in Phnom Penh on 4 November 2002 ("Framework Agreement") as well as the various agreements on trade in goods, services, dispute settlement, investment and other agreements relating to economic cooperation signed between ASEAN and China under the umbrella of the Framework and the Joint Declaration of the Heads of State/Government of Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the People’s Republic of China on ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity signed in Bali on 8 October 2003;

REALIZING the vast potential for economic cooperation between the Contracting Parties;

RECOGNISING that cooperation is based on equity, friendship and mutual benefit;

STRESSING that the areas of cooperation under this Memorandum of Understanding shall be complementary to the activities carried out in other ASEAN-China fora;

HAVE AGREED as follows:

ARTICLE I

Establishment and Location

1. The Contracting Parties shall hereby establish a one-stop information and activities centre known as the ASEAN-China Centre (hereinafter referred to as "the Centre") to promote ASEAN-China cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, education and culture, with active involvement of the private sector. The Centre shall gradually expand to include a more comprehensive array of activities and participants.

2. The Centre shall be a non-profit organisation but be able to raise funds necessary for its operation.

3. The Headquarters of the Centre shall be located in Beijing. Its affiliated centres may be established in ASEAN Member States as well as other parts of China in the future.

ARTICLE II

Objectives

The objectives of the Centre are:

a) to support the implementation of the Framework Agreement ; and various agreements on trade in goods, services, dispute settlement, investment and other agreements relating to economic cooperation signed under the umbrella of the Framework Agreement;

b) to enhance two-way trade between ASEAN and China and further cultivate trade partnership in order to jointly promote exports to outside markets and achieve market expansion;

c) to promote two-way flows of investment between ASEAN and China;

d) to undertake activities to help investors and businessmen from less developed ASEAN Member States, especially Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, in exploring trade and investment opportunities in China;

e) to promote flows of tourists between ASEAN and China;

f) to enhance interaction among the business communities of ASEAN and China;

g) to increase people-to-people contacts, public awareness, mutual understanding, as well as active participation among the ASEAN and Chinese peoples through cultural and educational exchanges; and

h) to synergise the potentials of ASEAN and China in order to enhance the region’s appeal to external partners and facilitate access to ASEAN and Chinese ventures.