ASEAN, China outline important orientations for partnership

During his address at the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasised that amid the challenges caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, ASEAN and China have launched a range of specific and practical activities. This involves sharing information and experience whilst supporting each other to improve their preventive medicine capacity in the fight against the pandemic.

Joint co-operation activities are still underway as planned through flexible forms, including the launch of the ASEAN-China Digital Economic Cooperation year in an online format, in addition to maintaining trade exchanges between both sides.

“Our summit today is of great significance in determining the direction of co-operation and co-ordination between ASEAN and China toward working together to overcome challenges and difficulties in the current period, and to drive back the epidemic risk, while ensuring a peaceful life for people, and maintaining a common stable environment for mutual recovery and development,” said PM Phuc.

In response, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China and ASEAN have been consistently sharing experience and good practices with one another, and have been the first locations to swiftly open up channels in an effort to revitalise their respective economies amid a global recession.

Most notably, bilateral trade is in the process of increasing, with ASEAN becoming China's largest trading partner during the first three quarters of this year, whilst Chinese investment in ASEAN has witnessed an annual increase of 70%.

All of this indicates that countries in region, including China and ASEAN members, have enormous mutual interests, with co-operation between the two sides in recent years creating a foundation for them to progress with stronger co-operation. Moving forward, China will continue to co-operate with ASEAN member states in an effort to uphold peace and stability in the region.

Through the process of dialogue and negotiation, both sides will continue their co-operation to resolve differences and disputes, although according to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, these issues do not reflect the full picture of relations.

“ASEAN is committed to a path of mutual development, win-win co-operation, and mutually beneficial co-operation in East Asia that will help to promote economic development and growth globally. ASEAN-China co-operation is indispensable in such a context. We also are committed to the path of solidarity and development,” the Chinese government chief added.