China has unveiled plans to establish a $10 billion investment fund for south-eastern Asian countries.

It has also offered credit of $15 billion to members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao had planned to announce the fund at the cancelled AAEAN summit in Thailand this week.

That deal is intended to create the world's largest free trade area which covers almost two billion people.

China's foreign minister Yang Jiechi says the investment fund is designed to ensure co-operation on infrastructure construction, energy and resources, information and communications.

China also planned to offer 270 million yuan ($39.7 million) in special aid to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to meet urgent needs.

Over the next three to five years, China plans to offer $15 billion in credit, including loans with preferential terms of $1.7 billion in aid for cooperation projects.

Thailand China