【答案解析】Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends, On behalf of the Chinese Government, I wish to extend a warm welcome to the leaders of ASEAN countries and all the guests at the meeting. Governments of China and ASEAN countries all give high priority to developing friendly relations and mutually-beneficial cooperation between the two sides. Since the First China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) in 2004, our two sides have made great efforts to advance the building of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. We have signed and put into effect the agreements on trade in goods and services, lowered tariff duties and expanded market access, deepened sub-regional economic cooperation in the Greater Mekong River Basin and East ASEAN Growth Area, and promoted trade and investment facilitation. // China and ASEAN countries are all at a stage of fast economic growth. We are connected by the same mountains and rivers. We share similar cultures and have much to offer each other economically. This has given us a solid foundation and huge potential for closer cooperation. Amidst the rising uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the word economy, continued expansion of the financial crisis in the United States and increased volatility in the international financial market, the global economic growth has markedly slowed down, causing a severe impact on the Asian region. In face of such unprecedented challenges, it is of special importance to accelerate China-ASEAN cooperation. // This year is a challenging year for China. In spite of the complex changes in the international situation and the unexpected difficulties at home, we have maintained fast economic growth and financial security and stability, won a major victory in our battle against the devastating Wenchuan earthquake, successfully hosted the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games and completed the Shenzhou 7 manned space flight mission with flying colors. // These achievements speak volume for the solid national strength China has accumulated in the past thirty years of reform and opening-up. On the whole, the fundamentals of the Chinese economy remain unchanged and macro control and regulation is producing expected results. In the first three quarters of this year, China's GDP grew by 9. 9% year on year and the commodity price rise has slowed down in recent months. // As the host of the CAEXPO and the CABIS, Guangxi is uniquely positioned to play an important role in promoting China-ASEAN cooperation, I hope that our Chinese and ASEAN friends from all sectors can make full use of this platform to strengthen exchanges, increase mutual understanding and enhance fruitful cooperation, and make new contribution to China-ASEAN business cooperation and China-ASEAN strategic partnership. I wish the China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit a complete success. Thank you. // (Excerpt from speech by Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan at the Opening Ceremony of the Fifth China- ASEAN Business and Investment Summit)