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Jan. 1, 2010: China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) kick off the regional free trade area, effectively lowering average tariffs for goods from ASEAN countries to 0.1 percent while six Southeast Asian countries will lower average tariffs on Chinese goods to 0.6 percent. Jan. 6, 2010: Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie meets Singapore’s Chief of Army Neo Kian Hong in Beijing. They pledge to expand military-to-military ties and areas for bilateral defense cooperation. Jan. 11, 2010: Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Wu Bangguo meets the head of Thailand’s National Assembly, Chai Chidchob, to discuss prospects for parliamentary exchanges. China-Southeast Asia Relations 62 April 2010 Jan. 14, 2010: Chinese officials meet representatives from Myanmar’s Military Affairs Security unit (formerly known as Military Intelligence) to discuss ways to curb arms smuggling and counter-insurgency activities along the Sino-Myanmar border. Jan. 15, 2010: The Singapore-China Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (SCAAST) is established to promote science and technology exchanges and collaboration between the two countries. The group will focus on bio-technology. Jan. 18, 2010: Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao exchange congratulatory messages with their Vietnamese counterparts to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The two sides pledge to build a more comprehensive, strategic, and cooperative partnership and seek greater collaboration to resolve remaining border issues. The anniversary will also involve a series of activities under the banner of the China-Vietnam Friendship Year 2010. Jan. 20, 2010: Representatives from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam meet in Bagan, Myanmar for the Seventh Senior Officials meeting for the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking (COMMIT). They are joined by other ASEAN member states and representatives from the United Nations to discuss plans and priorities to counter human trafficking activities in the region and strengthen joint law enforcement activities. Jan. 22, 2010: Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo meets Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Law and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto in Jakarta for the second round of the China-Indonesia strategic dialogue. He also meets ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan at the ASEAN Secretariat. Feb. 5, 2010: A New York Times article discusses Vietnam’s push to “internationalize” the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea by seeking to enlist other countries to convince China to negotiate the future settlements over the disputed islands in a multilateral setting. Feb. 16, 2010: ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan reviews and discusses the benefits and potential difficulties for member states taking part in the CAFTA. While acknowledging the agreement will require adjustments for certain countries, on the whole, he sees opportunities for growth for ASEAN member economies. Feb. 24, 2010: The National People’s Congress approves a 51-item agreement that was signed by Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Philippine counterpart Alberto Romulo in October 2009 to strengthen bilateral cooperation in consular affairs and promote the strategic relations. Feb. 25, 2010: China and Cambodia sign a treaty to provide a legal basis for officials to cooperate on consular affairs as well as to combat illegal immigration and transnational crimes. Feb. 27, 2010: Zhongguo Xinwen She news agency reports that Chinese RADM Yin Zhuo sees the rapid buildup of ASEAN member states’ submarine fleets along China’s coastal borders as a challenge to China and a source of increasing tensions in the South China Sea. China-Southeast Asia Relations 63 April 2010 China-Southeast Asia Relations 64 April 2010 March 4, 2010: Head of the Communist Party Central Committee International Department Wang Jiarui leads a delegation to Nay Pyi Taw and meets Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein. They reaffirm the friendly traditional ties between China and Myanmar and discuss prospects for enhanced cooperation in the energy sector and bilateral trade. March 8, 2010: Vietnam announces that it remains committed to implementing the terms of the land border boundary agreement signed with China in 2008 to maintain peace and stability along the two countries’ borders and to more effectively tackle such trans-border crimes as human trafficking, drug trade and arms smuggling. March 10, 2010: Chinese peacekeeping experts and officials take part in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Peacekeeping Experts’ Meeting in Bangkok to discuss the evolving complexity of peace operations and the increasingly important role regional organizations contribute toward such operations. March 11, 2010: The Chinese Embassy in Thailand convenes a public press conference to rebuke recent claims that the Chinese mega-hydropower projects in Southwest China are affecting the water volume in the Mekong River. March 18, 2010: Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu visits Phnom Penh and meets his Cambodian counterpart to discuss bilateral relations. The two sides agree to improve and expand high-level exchanges and to deepen business, trade, and economic cooperation. March 21, 2010: Vice Premier Hui arrives in Vientiane to meet senior Laotian officials. They discuss prospects for increasing bilateral cooperation, especially in trade and investment. March 23, 2010: Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie meets the commanding general of Thailand’s National Defense Studies Institute. They agree to work to help elevate bilateral strategic cooperation and deepen joint training activities. March 24, 2010: The $120 billion Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization Agreement on currency swaps among China, Japan, South Korea and ASEAN member states comes into effect. March 29, 2010: ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan visits Beijing and meets senior officials including Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, and Commerce Minister Chen Deming. March 29-31, 2010: China hosts a meeting with representatives from ASEAN countries on defense and security issues in Beijing. Sponsored by the Academy of Military Sciences and the People’s Liberation Army, the dialogue seeks to deepen mutual trust and focuses on regional defense matters.