We, the Heads of State/Government of the Member Countries of ASEAN and the People's Republic of China have reviewed the development of bilateral relationship in recent years. We agree that since the issuance of the Joint Statement of the Meeting of the Heads of State/Government of the Member Countries of ASEAN and the President of the People's Republic of China in 1997, the relationship between ASEAN and China has seen rapid, comprehensive and in-depth growth and ASEAN and China have become important partners of cooperation.