Wen

HUA HIN, Thailand: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived here Friday evening to attend a series of meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), at which regional integration and economic ties are expected to top the agenda. Wen is scheduled to attend the 12th summit between ASEAN and China (10+1), the 12th summit between ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) and the fourth East Asia Summit. He will also hold bilateral meetings with heads of government from other countries during his three-day stay in the seaside town, some 200 km south of Bangkok.

Wen’s visit, made at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, will be a “journey of cooperation, confidence and development,” Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue said Wednesday.

During the summit meetings, China and ASEAN countries are expected to sign several cooperation documents, including a memorandum of understanding on the China-ASEAN center to facilitate economic, trade, social, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, Hu said.

Also on Wednesday, China and ASEAN pledged to safeguard regional financial stability and strengthen regional cooperation in currency and investment.

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