中国昨日与东南亚国家联盟(ASEAN，东盟)签署了一项协议，承诺开放关键服务领域。目前双方正朝着创建一个自由贸易区的方向前进，可能创建全球最大的自由贸易区。

China yesterday signed an agreement with the Association of South-east Asian Nations that promises to open up key services sectors¹ as the two partners move towards creating what could be the world's biggest free trade zone.

在菲律宾中部城市宿务召开的中国与东盟领导人年度会议上，中国总理温家宝和东盟10国领导人签署了该项协议，协议将于今年7月生效。

The accord, which comes into effect in July, was signed during a meeting between Wen Jiabao, Chinese premier², and 10 Asean leaders attending the regional group's annual summit in the central Philippine city of Cebu.

上述协议被视为在2015年前建立中国-东盟自由贸易区的关键一步。这一贸易区将把中国的12亿人口与东南亚地区的5亿人口团结在一个单一市场中。它同时也突显出，作为一个地区性大国，中国的影响力越来越大。

The deal is seen as a vital step towards the establishment by 2015 of a China-Asean free trade area. Such a zone would unite China's 1.2bn people and south-east Asia's 500m citizens in a single market. It also highlights Beijing's increasing influence as a regional power.

根据该协议，中国快速发展的各行业，如银行、信息技术、房地产、医疗保健、工程、教育、运输以及建筑，将给予东南亚国家企业更大准入。这可能也有助于削减东盟国家对中国的巨额贸易逆差，减缓有关扩大对华经贸联系对较小经济体不利的恐惧感。

South-east Asian companies should get greater access to rapidly growing Chinese sectors - such as banking³, information technology, real estate, health, engineering, education, transport and construction - thanks to the new agreement. It may also help cut Asean members' huge trade deficits⁴ with China, allaying⁵ fears that expanding economic ties with Beijing is disadvantageous for smaller economies.

温家宝在会上发表讲话时指出，该协议"标志着中国－东盟自贸区建设向前迈出关键的一步，为如期全面建成自贸区奠定了基础。"

In his remarks during the meeting with Asean leaders, Mr Wen said the agreement "will mark a key step forward in the building of the China-Asean free trade area and lay the foundation for full and scheduled completion of the China-Asean FTA".

东盟国家领导人表示，他们希望该协议帮助本国企业进入中国不向外资普遍开放的行业。

Asean leaders said they were looking to the deal to help them gain entry to sectors that were off limits to foreigners in China.