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July 1, 2010: China and Thailand mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Senior diplomatic representatives reflect on the expanding ties between the two countries, including more frequent high-level exchanges, increased trade cooperation, and enhanced political trust. July 2, 2010: Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem meet in Beijing to co-chair the fourth round of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee on Cooperation. They agree in principle to maintain regional stability and to “properly deal with the maritime territorial issues in the South China Sea.” July 9, 2010: According to official Chinese media, the Ministry of Land Resources issues a study putting Myanmar on a special “watch list” for potential acquisition of natural resources China-Southeast Asia Relations 69 October 2010 such as coal, copper, oil and gas. Other resource-rich neighboring states listed in the study include Mongolia, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia‟s far eastern region of Siberia. July 13, 2010: Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie meets with Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Defense Ministry Chiang Chie Foo. They agree to strengthen and advance military-to-military relations. Since 2008, China and Singapore have been holding an annual defense policy dialogue to discuss issues of common concern in the region. July 14, 2010: China and Vietnam enforce the Protocol on Border Demarcation and Marker Planting, an agreement that was signed in November 2009 after 36 years of bilateral negotiations on land boundary issues. The new agreement provides a more precise boundary division, as well as regulations on the management, protection, exploitation, and use of water from border rivers and streams, and the cross-border travel of people, vehicles, and commodities. July 19, 2010: China and Malaysia agree to establish an infectious diseases laboratory to conduct joint research to help prevent future pandemic outbreaks. July 21, 2010: China and Indonesia celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Bilateral relations reached a new level in 2005 when both leaders agreed to forge a strategic partnership. They agree to continue to deepen and broaden bilateral political, economic, and security ties. July 22, 2010: Defense Minister Liang Guanglie meets Laotian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Douangchay Phichit in Beijing. They discuss the current state of bilateral military-to-military relations and agree to expand cooperation on the security front. July 22, 2010: Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu meets Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng to discuss increasing cooperation between the Chinese public security officials with the Singapore police forces. July 29, 2010: Singapore hosts the Fifth Conference of the ASEAN-China People-to-People Friendship Organizations. Future prospects for strengthening China-ASEAN relations in five key sectors, including the economy, culture, education, public health, and sports are discussed. Aug. 3, 2010: The first China-ASEAN Education Minister Roundtable Conference takes place in Guiyang, Guizhou Province of China. Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong proposes that China and ASEAN conduct a feasibility study of educational integration within the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. Liu also announces that China will offer 10,000 government scholarships in the next 10 years for students from ASEAN countries. Aug. 9, 2010: Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Zhang Qiyue congratulates the 43rd anniversary of ASEAN and remarks that Beijing will continue to support ASEAN‟s efforts for regional integration into a single community by 2015. Aug. 24, 2010: Defense Minister Liang Guanglie says that China will remain engaged and supportive of the upcoming ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam in October, China-Southeast Asia Relations 70 October 2010 particularly as it seeks to work with regional partners to manage nontraditional security challenges and build mutual trust and cooperation. Aug. 26, 2010: Chinese Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Sar Kheng agree to increase bilateral cooperation in law enforcement, counterterrorism activities, drug control, and other transnational crimes. Aug. 29, 2010: Defense Minister Liang Guanglie meets his Thai counterpart Prawit Wongsuwan in Beijing to discuss expanding military-to-military cooperation. Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2010: The maritime police units of Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi conduct a joint maritime patrol and control operation and a coordinated emergency response exercise in the Beibu Bay. The purpose is to examine the emergency response capabilities of China‟s maritime police forces, safeguard its maritime rights and interests, and combat illicit activities. Sept. 9, 2010: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meets Myanmar‟s top leader Gen. Than Shwe in Beijing. They agree to deepen bilateral relations particularly in such large scale projects as oil and gas exploration and development, hydroelectric power, and infrastructure development. Sept. 12, 2010: Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao acknowledges the determination of President Benigno Aquino III to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the Aug. 23 hostage crisis in Manila. Sept. 16, 2010: China and Vietnam agree to further enhance law enforcement cooperation to curb illegal border crossing, terrorism, counterfeiting, telecommunications fraud, gambling, human and drug-trafficking, and other cross-border crimes. Sept. 17, 2010: Defense Minister Liang Guanglie meets Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Tea Banh in Beijing. They agree to increase high-level contacts between the two armed forces and expand areas of security cooperation. Sept. 17, 2010: Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the People‟s Liberation Army (PLA), meets Songkitti Jaggabatara, head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. They agree to increase bilateral military personnel training and further exchanges between their military academies. Sept. 28, 2010: Chinese and Thai Special Forces announce that they will hold the Strike 2010 joint counterterrorism training in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in October. This will be their third joint counterterrorism activity and each country will send 60 members for the two-week-long training.