•  Economic cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin

Speaking at the event, Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo highlighted the development of friendly and neighbourly relations between the two sides over the past 20 years.

He emphasised the two sides' joint efforts to develop the ASEAN-China strategic partnership, saying that China will continue to support underdeveloped ASEAN countries in achieving their development goals.

China backs the building of an ASEAN Community and its central role in East Asia cooperation, he said.

Mr. Dai said China is willing to work closely with ASEAN member countries to enhance mutual political trust, expand cooperation for mutual benefits in different fields, and implement the second five-year action plan to raise two-way trade to US$500 billion.

The two sides will build up connectivity in ASEAN-China relations and improve security cooperation to turn the East Sea into a region of peace, friendship, and cooperation.

The Chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Beijing, Xisunda, who is also Cambodian ambassador to China, said ASEAN and China will continue to strengthen dialogue relations for mutual benefits

Since ASEAN and China established their dialogue relations, two-way trade has increased by 37 times, from US$7.9 billion in 1991 to US$229.7 billion in 2010.

China is now ASEAN’s biggest trade partner while ASEAN is China’s third biggest trade partner.