Delegates to the 29th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Consultation. (Photo: VNA) The Chinese side reaffirmed its support for ASEAN Communitybuilding and ASEAN centrality in ASEAN-led regional mechanisms, and highlightedthis year as a milestone year in their relations as it marks the 20thanniversary of China’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation inSoutheast Asia.
The meeting highlighted both sides’ developments and tooknote of the progress made in various areas of cooperation over the past year.Notable progress has been made in various areas of the ASEAN-China Plan ofAction 2021-2025 and its annex to advance their Comprehensive StrategicPartnership.
Suggestions were made to further promote cooperation underthe Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and make the partnership moresubstantive, meaningful, and mutually beneficial. This included efforts tofurther enhance the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, effective implementation ofthe Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, connectivity,digital economy, e-commerce, sustainable development, smart cities, tourism,education, public health, and people-to-people exchanges.
The meeting also highlighted this year’s cooperation theme,ASEAN-China Year of Agricultural Development and Food Security, launched on April 25. Both sides looked forward to the execution of projects and activitiesthat will contribute to a more sustainable and resilient region.
Delegates discussed the preparations for outcome documentsof this year’s ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting and Summit. Both sides are alsopreparing for the signing of a technical cooperation agreement this year whichwill contribute to the socio-economic development of the region throughtechnical cooperation projects or programmes.
In light of the easing of pandemic-related policies andmeasures in ASEAN Member States and China, both sides stressed the need to worktowards fully restoring and increasing two-way tourist arrivals, as well asyouth and student exchanges.
They also exchanged views on matters related to regional andinternational development. The meeting noted the need to enhance cooperation toaddress regional challenges such as such as terrorism, human trafficking,illicit drug abuse and cybercrime./.
VNA
