The two parties reviewed the achievements of bilateral cooperation over the past 20 years and predicted that trade would increase to over one trillion dollars by 2023.
Representing China at the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Indonesia is Wang Yi, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China and member of the Politburo.
The diplomat stressed that joint cooperation makes it possible to overcome the challenge posed by the pandemic and to make progress in regional stability and peace.
Wang mentioned some of the completed projects of the Belt and Road Initiative between Southeast Asian countries and China, which benefit more than two billion people.
He particularly praised Cambodia’s opening of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, cross-border passenger services on the China-Laos railway line and a new international land-sea trade route.
The parties discussed the negotiation of version 1.3 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Association.
Wang reiterated China’s position on the continued development of ASEAN in an open and inclusive manner without outside interference.
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