The 23rd China-ASEAN Senior Officials’ Consultations Held in Guiyang

On May 19, 2017, the 23rd China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Senior Officials' Consultations was held in Guiyang. Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong of Singapore co-chaired the consultation, and senior officials of ASEAN or representatives of ASEAN senior officials as well as ASEAN’s Deputy Secretary-General were present.

The conference reviewed the implementation of the “2+7 cooperation framework” between China and ASEAN in a comprehensive way, especially the implementation progress of the Commemorative Summit marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, and activities of the Year of China-ASEAN Tourism Cooperation. Speaking highly of the great achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation, the conference stressed that these achievements brought tangible benefits to 2 billion people in China and ASEAN countries. It is believed that the connotation of China-ASEAN strategic partnership is becoming richer, with broader prospects for cooperation and a more mature and rational way when dealing with differences, thus making significant contributions to promoting the peace, stability and development in the region.

Senior officials from ASEAN countries highly praised the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that was held earlier in China. They viewed that the “Belt and Road” initiative is conducive to promoting regional cooperation and development, hoping to advance a closer integration between the initiative and the development plans of ASEAN, so as to bring new development opportunities for the well-being of people from all countries. China congratulated the ASEAN on the 50th anniversary of its establishment, and expressed its willingness to continue to support the construction of the ASEAN community as well as ASEAN’s central position in regional cooperation.

All sides believed that China-ASEAN relationship is on a crucial stage linking the past and the future. Facing new development opportunities, all sides should hold the mainstream of the development of bilateral relations from an overall perspective and push China-ASEAN relations for constant progress. China and ASEAN should deepen practical cooperation in various fields, forge a new pillar of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, foster a new engine for sub-regional cooperation, intensify communication and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and inject positive energy into economic globalization and regional integration. The two sides should take the 15th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN strategic partnership next year as a new opportunity to explore and build a higher level of China-ASEAN strategic partnership and well plan a blueprint for the future development of bilateral relations.

(From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China)