Countries joined in the Association of South East Asian nations (ASEAN) put high hopes that their closer relationship with China would help them in spurring economic growth in the region, ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan said.

"As China emerges as the third largest economy, closer cooperation and integration with the ASEAN economies would certainly ascend our position around the world. Our production cost will be lower, the efficiency and the distribution of the products to the rest of the world would be more effective," Surin said in an interview with Chinese media in ASEAN Secretary General headquarters on Wednesday.

He said that Chinese firms production base in ASEAN countries would give China the advantage of the markets in western part of the region.

"We hope that as China grows, China will continue opening its market to ASEAN countries. ASEAN will continue to be helpful in the growth of China and our growth will be shared throughout the region. And along the way, there will be stability and security for the region," he said.

According to Surin economic growth, trade and investment would depend on security and stability, on sense of confidence that people have in the region.

"So we hope good neighborly relation between China and ASEAN would continue and would promote productivity," he said.

The ASEAN secretary general also said that as ASEAN countries help China in improving its growth by supplying components for China Manufacturers, China can provide its assistance to help countries in Southeast Asia region spur their economic growth by technology transfers, training programs, investment and tourism.

"There are ways to help each other, accommodate each other. In every economy relationship, there is no one-way benefit. There is no one interest to be taken care of. There have to be through many ways. It is the really way of mutual benefit," Surin pointed out.

Apart from that, Surin also said that that the would-be enacted ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) pact would pave the way for more efforts to build the community in ASEAN. The pact is scheduled to take into effect on January 1 2010.

"ASEAN could become China's strategy policy coordination forum aimed at boosting the community building in the region," he said.

According to International Monetary Funds's (IMF) estimation, China and ASEAN region will be the frontrunner of countries and region that would enjoy high economic growths in 2010. Those two economies have been regarded as areas that were less affected by impacts of the ongoing global crisis.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2009)