June 20, 2024
JAKARTA – The relationship between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one of the most important partnerships in the region, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn told a forum in Jakarta on Wednesday.
“Today, ASEAN and China have the most number of mechanisms of cooperation,” Kao said, adding that the cooperation mechanisms with China account for almost 20 percent of the total such frameworks that ASEAN has with its 11 official dialogue partners.
It is important for the two sides to recognize the profound impact of the relationship and continue to promote peace, prosperity and sustainable development in the region, Kao said in his keynote address at the ASEAN-China Future Relations Forum held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Indonesia’s capital city.
The forum was co-hosted by the Mission of China to ASEAN and the Permanent Mission of Myanmar to ASEAN. Under the theme “Towards a More Substantive Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”, it brought together officials, ambassadors, and thought leaders from China and ASEAN to discuss the potential of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides.
Kao said ASEAN and China should continue to strengthen cooperation in economy, connectivity, political security, sustainable development and people-to-people exchanges to bring more benefits to people in the region.
For example, ASEAN and China should work together and expedite the Code of Conduct negotiations pertaining to the South China Sea, said Kao, adding that the ASEAN-China free trade agreement has been a tremendous success.
“The future of ASEAN-China relations, I believe, is on the right track and it is bright and full of potential,” said Kao.
“As we move forward, we must remain committed to the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits,” said Kao. “We also must manage our differences wisely and constructively.”
In their congratulatory messages, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Saleumxay Kommasith, Lao’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, spoke highly of achievements of the China-ASEAN partnership. Their messages were delivered by Hou Yanqi, Chinese ambassador to ASEAN, and Bovonethat Douangchak, Lao ambassador to ASEAN, respectively.
Wang said the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership is growing with a strong momentum, and China is ready to forge greater synergy with ASEAN in development strategies while firmly supporting its community building and the ASEAN-centered regional architecture.
“The ASEAN-China relations stand as a cornerstone in the regional diplomatic landscape, fostering multi-faceted cooperation and underpinning peace, stability and prosperity,” said Kommasith, adding that he hopes to see wider cooperation in various socio-economic fields.
ASEAN will remain the priority of China’s neighborhood diplomacy, said Sun Weidong, China’s vice-minister of foreign affairs and senior official for East Asian cooperation.
Delivering his speech via video link, Sun said China and ASEAN need to work together for open regionalism and true multilateralism to prevent Cold War mentality, unilateralism and block confrontation from having their way in the region.
Noting that ASEAN and China have designated 2024 as the Year of People-to-People Exchange, Aung Kyaw Moe, permanent secretary of Myanmar’s foreign ministry and leader of the ASEAN-Myanmar Senior Officials’ Meeting, said this shows the two sides’ recognition of the crucial role of interpersonal connection.
“We should also seize the opportunity before us to elevate the ASEAN-China relationship to new heights,” said Aung Kyaw Moe, also speaking via video link.
The uncertainties in various parts of the world should not affect relations between ASEAN and China, and the two sides should maintain a stable relationship and work together toward shared prosperity, said Dino Patti Djalal, founder and chairman of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia, or FPCI.
FPCI, one of the biggest foreign policy groups in Southeast Asia, organized the forum.
“If the relationship (between ASEAN and China) can become a factor of stability for both sides, for the region, I think that can be an inspiring model of cooperation for others to see,” said Dino.