China is ready to join with members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to improve reciprocal cooperation and achieve common prosperity, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing Monday.

Liu made the remarks upon the fact that the just concluded 13th SAARC summit adopted the Dhaka Declaration, which accorded China an observer status in the regional organization.

"We hope that SAARC countries make more achievements in promoting regional cooperation," he said.

SAARC member countries include Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2005)