CHINA-ASEAN PARTNERSHIP GROWS STRONGER, SAYS FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON

From Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

BEIJING, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- The deepening China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership continues to serve as a key anchor for regional growth and stability, injecting renewed momentum for Asia’s economic development and integration, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.

Speaking at his daily press conference on Wednesday, he said China and ASEAN countries are close neighbours, sharing similar visions and converging interests.

“China attaches great importance to its relations with ASEAN and to East Asian cooperation,” he said.

Guo also expressed support for Malaysia’s rotating chairmanship of ASEAN.

Malaysia will host the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from Oct. 26 to 28.

More than 30 heads of state and government, including ASEAN leaders and key dialogue partners, will converge at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre to discuss regional peace, economic resilience and inclusive growth under Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”

Meanwhile, Guo said China and ASEAN have maintained close high-level exchanges, deepened political mutual trust, and strengthened the momentum of integrated development.

“The two sides attach great importance to synergising their development strategies and have formulated the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030),” he said when asked about China’s perspective on its cooperation and current relations with ASEAN.

Meanwhile, Guo said China and ASEAN remain committed to maintaining regional peace and stability, upholding ASEAN centrality, and advancing dialogue-based solutions and cooperation in the South China Sea.

“China firmly supports ASEAN’s central role in the regional architecture and stands ready to work with all parties to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.

“We are committed to properly handling differences in the South China Sea through dialogue and consultation with countries directly concerned, and working with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), accelerate consultations on a code of conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and deepen practical maritime cooperation to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation,” he said. 

In a rapidly changing world, he added China will continue to promote cooperation and pursue win-win outcomes, upholding the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness to build an even closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

-- BERNAMA