It is a great pleasure to come to Jakarta as China’s new Ambassador to ASEAN. Out of the 35 years of my diplomatic career, I have always been engaged in dealing with Asian affairs, in particular China’s bilateral relations with ASEAN countries for nearly half of the time. I was posted in four ASEAN member states, where my stay was filled with warm and fond memories. Having returned to the big ASEAN family, I feel much at home and excited.

With united and pioneering efforts over the past half a century, ASEAN countries have established the first sub-regional community in Asia and turned ASEAN into one of the most successful organizations of regional cooperation. ASEAN community building has scored steady and remarkable progress. The ASEAN-centered regional architecture and cooperation is indispensable to regional stability and prosperity. The ASEAN Way has become a beacon of multilateralism, featuring East Asian characteristics. I’m truly happy to see the enormous achievements ASEAN has made and fully confident in its ever-promising future!

China and ASEAN, as close neighbors linked by land and sea, have long been good neighbors, good friends and good partners. Since the launch of our dialogue process in 1991, we have been working closely to deepen mutual political trust, pursue shared interests and learn from each other’s splendid civilization. Our joint efforts have brought about major progress in our respective countries, and more importantly, ushered our relations to a new stage of all-round growth. ASEAN-China relationship pioneers regional cooperation in East Asia and contributes significantly to the sustained momentum of regional development as well as regional peace and prosperity.

ASEAN is always high on China’s diplomatic agenda and a priority region under the Belt and Road Initiative. China remains committed to supporting ASEAN community building, ASEAN centrality in East Asian cooperation and a bigger role of ASEAN in building an open and inclusive regional architecture. As the year 2020 kicks off the third decade of the 21st century and preludes the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relationship next year, our relationship is brimmed with immense opportunities on the way forward.

With the demanding mandate entrusted upon me, I am deeply honored to serve as China’s new Ambassador to ASEAN. I will lead my mission to work wholeheartedly with ASEAN colleagues and friends to follow through on our leaders’ consensus and advance cooperation under the guidance of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030. No efforts will be spared to build a higher-level of ASEAN-China strategic partnership and a closer-knit ASEAN-China community with a shared future for the benefit of our people and the region.

Thank you!