The recent ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Vientiane marked a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral ties between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Both sides hailed the meeting's fruitful outcomes, emphasizing the commitment to enhance economic and trade cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-hosted the event, highlighting the steady progress in building a China-ASEAN community with a shared future. This partnership benefits over two billion people, fostering common development and prosperity across the region.
Wang noted the deepening economic and trade links, rapid recovery in cultural exchanges, and the establishment of new growth drivers. He pointed out that China's ongoing modernization efforts, supported by further reforms, are creating new opportunities for ASEAN countries and other global partners.
The ministers discussed accelerating negotiations to upgrade the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, aiming to integrate regional industrial and supply chains better. They also focused on developing competitive emerging industry clusters and expanding financial sector cooperation, including increasing settlements in local currencies.
Looking ahead, both sides are committed to making the 2024 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges a success by strengthening education, tourism, and cultural ties. The meeting also addressed the importance of concluding the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to ensure regional peace and stability.
Senior diplomats expressed optimism about leveraging bilateral cooperation mechanisms to advance in areas such as digital transformation, connectivity, clean energy, and climate change. The collaborative efforts aim to build a more resilient and sustainable future for ASEAN and its partners.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Wang Yi held discussions with foreign ministers from South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, the European Union, Norway, Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia, and India, further reinforcing the global support for ASEAN-China cooperation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
