Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao greeted the 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations before the opening ceremony for the China-Asean Commemorative Summit, which celebrates 15 years of dialogue relations.

China has been making efforts to emphasise its warming relationship with resource-rich Asean, downplaying the competitive threat from its economic might and forging efforts to boost development in Southeast Asia.

"During the past 15 years, China and Asean have together gone through the experience of eliminating suspicions and developing dialogue, as well as promoting mutual trust," said summit co-chair Wen at the opening.

"China and Asean relations are at their historical best."

It is first international summit of Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont who was appointed on October 1 after the military seized power from former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Asean comprise Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, the other co-chair for the summit, hailed the meeting as a milestone for Asean and said relations "have never been better."

"This is an important state of affairs that can only help the region and the world," said Arroyo, whose country is the currently chair of Asean.

Aside from developing closer economic and political ties, officials said  leaders would discuss at the one-day summit regional concerns such as the North Korean nuclear crisis.

"In the light of recent events in North Korea, regional peace and security has never been more important," said Arroyo.

Agence France Presse/The Nation