An overview of Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting (Photo: VNA) This is the first in-personmeeting at the foreign ministerial level held by ASEAN since the COVID-19outbreak.
During the meeting, ASEANForeign Ministers and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yireaffirmed the high commitment of both sides to attaching importance to and makingjoint efforts to promote the growing strategic partnership between ASEAN andChina, on the basis of mutual benefits, respect and understanding, thus contributingto peace, stability and prosperous development in the region and the world.
They acknowledged that throughactive exchanges and meetings at all levels and effective coordination atregional dialogues and cooperation mechanisms led by ASEAN, political trust isconsolidated and neighbourhood relations are nurtured. Economic cooperation haswitnessed very dynamic developments. Two-way trade has increased by 80 times inthe past three decades, making China and ASEAN the biggest trading partner ofeach other.
ASEAN Foreign Ministersconsidered the ASEAN-China partnership as one of the bloc's most dynamic,substantive and effective relations, and appreciated China's timely andeffective cooperation in difficult and challenging times, especially inresponse to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For China, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister WangYi stressed that ASEAN has always been a high priority in China's foreignpolicy. China consistently attaches importance to the friendly neighborlinessand win-win cooperation with ASEAN, and wishes to lift the bilateral strategicpartnership to a new height, he said, adding that his country also supportsASEAN's central role in the regional architecture.
The Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and China shared manyimportant development orientations for the bilateral relationship, in whichthey agreed to give high priority to promoting cooperation in controllingCOVID-19 and promoting post-pandemic recovery.
The Chinese side affirmed that it will continue to speed upthe supply of COVID-19 vaccines to ASEAN countries, and support the grouping toimprove its vaccine research, development, production and distribution capacity.China will also actively cooperate with ASEAN to boost recovery through theimplementation of the ASEAN Overall Recovery Framework, facilitate trade and investment,effectively utilise the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), and soon putthe Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement into effect.The two sides will continue to expand cooperation for sustainable developmentin the spirit of their cooperation theme in 2021.
ASEAN and China agreed to closely coordinate in implementing activities to mark 30 years of the bilateral partnership between the two sides, as well as preparing bestresults for the ASEAN-China commemorative summit later this year.
On regional and international issues of shared concern, theconference affirmed that the maintenance of an environment of peace, securityand stability in the region, including in the East Sea, is the common interestand benefit of ASEAN and China. The ministers welcomed the 19th ASEAN-China Senior Official Meeting (SOM) on implementing the Declaration of the Conducts of Parties in the East Sea(DOC) which took place ahead of the ministerial meeting.
They pledged to continue fully and effectively implement theDOC, resume negotiations on building a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) inline with international law and the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea(1982 UNCLOS).
On the Myanmar situation, China welcomed the outcome of theASEAN leaders’ meeting on April 24, supporting the role of ASEAN in promotingdialogue and mediation and helping Myanmar seek a solution to stabilise thesituation.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA)
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese ForeignMinister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the achievements obtained over the past 30years have proved the sustainable, reliable and mutually beneficial partnershipbetween ASEAN and China. He stressed that Vietnam will actively work with ASEANmember countries and China to strengthen political dialogue; improve mutualunderstanding, trust and respect; and promote comprehensive cooperation, makingthe bilateral relationship a model of stable and sustainable partnershipbetween neighbouring countries.
Regardingthe world and regional situation, the Vietnamese minister emphasised theimportance of efforts by ASEAN and China to maintain an environment of peace,security, stability and rule of law in the region, through responsible acts,cooperation with goodwill, self-restraint, and peaceful settlement of disputesand differences. He affirmed that Vietnam will continue to work with ASEANcountries and China to fully and effectively implement the DOC and build aneffective and efficient COC in accordance with international law and the UNCLOS1982.
According to Son, as members of the ASEAN Community, ASEAN countries willcontinue to support Myanmar to find a long-term solution to stabilise thesituation, ensure safety, and normalise people's lives. He said he hopes thatChina would actively back this effort of ASEAN./.
