ASEAN, China talk ways to bolster strategic partnership

Senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China held a consultation in Hangzhou city, China’s Zhejiang province, on May 19 to review cooperation, discuss measures to promote partnership, and prepare for the ASEAN-China post ministerial conference this August.
asean, china talk ways to bolster strategic partnership hinh 0
Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung (fifth, left) and other officials pose for a photo at the ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Consultation in Hangzhou on May 19.

uyen Quoc Dung, who on behalf of ASEAN delivered an introductory speech on political-security cooperation, putting forth important orientations for enhancing ASEAN-China ties in this regard.

At the event, participants applauded the strides in implementing the instructions issued by the 21st ASEAN-China Summit in Singapore last November and the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030.

With 47 cooperation mechanisms in various spheres, the ASEAN-China strategic partnership has been being carried out strongly, they noted.

China has continually been the top trade partner of ASEAN with bilateral trade reaching 436.8 billion USD in 2017, accounting for 17 percent of the bloc’s total trade. With 11.3 billion USD of investment capital poured in ASEAN countries in 2017, China is also the third biggest investor of ASEAN. 

The number of tourists between the two sides has always surpassed 10 million each year. Many people-to-people and youth exchanges, along with educational, cultural and media exchanges, have been held such as the ASEAN-China Education Cooperation Week, the ASEAN-China Youth Camp 2018, and the ASEAN-China Year of Media Exchange 2019.

Regarding orientations for future cooperation, the two sides agreed to press on with realising the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030. Accordingly, they will realise the ASEAN-China Plan of Action 2016-2020 and strive to raise bilateral trade to 1 trillion USD and bilateral investment to 150 billion USD in 2020.

They will also focus their cooperation on digital economy, e-commerce, cyber security, connectivity promotion, infrastructure building, transportation, development of the Greater Mekong Sub-region, support for small- and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture, innovation, and negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

China presented cooperation proposals in terms of smart city building, media exchange, and connection of its Belt and Road Initiative with ASEAN’s development plans.

Discussing the regional and international situation, ASEAN and China affirmed the necessity to build and consolidate an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional architecture. 

China voiced its support for the grouping’s central role and noted its hope for a united and unanimous ASEAN and a strong ASEAN Community. ASEAN countries also highly valued China’s role and participation in ASEAN-led forums. They hoped that China will continue making active and responsible contributions to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region.

The event also recognised the outcomes of the ASEAN-China senior official’s meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), along with the progress in building a Code of Conduct (COC) in the waters.

Participants agreed on the need to fully implement the DOC and soon finalise an efficient and substantive COC supported by the international community.

Many countries stressed the importance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea. They called on relevant parties to exercise self-restraint, cooperate to build trust, avoid complicating the situation, and resolve disputes by peaceful means on the basis on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

VNA

Other News

First working day of Party Central Committee's fourth plenum

First working day of Party Central Committee's fourth plenum

Delegates held group discussions on the CPV Central Committee resolution calling for stronger building and rectification towards a clean, strong and comprehensive Party and political system able to meet the country's development needs in the new era.

Key Party leader hosts Hungarian Workers' Party chief

Key Party leader hosts Hungarian Workers' Party chief

The Communist Party of Vietnam always values its solidarity and friendship with the Hungarian Workers' Party and communist and workers' parties worldwide, which helps build political trust and supports Vietnam's relations with other countries, said key Party leader Tran Cam Tu.

14th Party Central Committee convenes fourth plenum

14th Party Central Committee convenes fourth plenum

In his opening remarks, General Secretary and President To Lam said that the 14th National Party Congress set out major orientations and strategic goals, while the second and third plenums adopted important policies on Party building, personnel, development and national defence. The fourth plenum must focus on creating conditions for effective implementation while preparing the theoretical, organisational and human resources foundations for the country’s long-term development.

Panamanian President's Vietnam visit offers new opportunity to deepen bilateral ties

Panamanian President's Vietnam visit offers new opportunity to deepen bilateral ties

Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico and Panama Nguyen Van Hai noted that the visit is particularly significant as the first high-level exchange between the two countries in nearly 15 years, following then-President Ricardo Martinelli’s visit to Vietnam in 2012, and came shortly after the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.

Vietnam and Panama can become gateways linking two regions

Vietnam and Panama can become gateways linking two regions

"Panama can serve as a strategic platform for Vietnamese companies seeking greater access to Latin America and the Caribbean, while Vietnam represents an important gateway for strengthening Panama’s engagement with Southeast Asia", Ambassador Nubiela Ayala Modes confirmed.

Localities committed to achieving 2026 growth targets

Localities committed to achieving 2026 growth targets

Localities nationwide hailed effective and flexible directions delivered by the Government so far this year, resulting in positive nine-month socio-economic growth, and reaffirmed their commitment to achieving targets set for the whole 2026 at an online Government-locality conference on October 3.

Creating new drivers for Vietnam-Canada cooperation

Creating new drivers for Vietnam-Canada cooperation

The elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership shows that Vietnam and Canada increasingly view each other not simply as trading partners, but as long-term partners in addressing economic, technological and regional challenges.

Top leader asks for sports development to build national strength

Top leader asks for sports development to build national strength

The top leader applauded the efforts of ministries, sectors, localities, social organisations, coaches, athletes, experts in developing physical education and sports in recent times, stressing that Resolution No. 08 has provided an important political foundation for sports development over the past 15 years, while Conclusion No. 70 set important orientations for the new period.

Vietnam mobilises resources to affirm its leadership role in APEC 2027

Vietnam mobilises resources to affirm its leadership role in APEC 2027

PSNews - Vietnam is recognised by its partners as an influential member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, with expectations that it will continue to demonstrate leadership when it hosts APEC for the third time in 2027, according to Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu.

Top Vietnamese leader receives Chairman of Japan Bank for International Cooperation

Top Vietnamese leader receives Chairman of Japan Bank for International Cooperation

General Secretary and President Lam urged JBIC to continue promoting the substantive implementation of projects under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), and step up discussions on potential cooperation within the framework of the POWERR Asia (Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia) initiative, including the development of strategic energy reserves.

NA, Government's Party committees meet on legislature's second session agenda

NA, Government's Party committees meet on legislature's second session agenda

National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man coordination must go beyond finishing the agenda to improve the quality of NA decisions and Government enforcement; deal with policies rather than just paperwork, especially in the fight against corruption and other negative phenomena; and pin down final responsibility for each product, not just progress.

Prime Minister receives Cambodian Minister of Inspection

Prime Minister receives Cambodian Minister of Inspection

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung asked the two countries' inspection agencies to build on their achievements by regularly exchanging information and experience, maintaining delegation exchanges, and coordinating inspections in areas related to bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation.