On June 10, 2021, Ambassador Deng Xijun briefed Chinese and foreign media via video link on the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations. More than ten journalists from media outlets including the Radio Republik Indonesia, Jakarta Post, Metro TV, PT Bolong Media, Phoenix TV, CGTN, People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China News Service, Economic Daily, Television Station of Shenzhen and The Paper attended the briefing.

Ambassador Deng Xijun emphasized that this year marked the 30th anniversary of the dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. It is a year of special significance for the two sides to build on the past achievements and pursue new progress. Over the past three decades, ASEAN-China cooperation has grown in leaps and bounds, becoming the most successful and dynamic example of cooperation in the Asia Pacific. The two sides have worked together to enrich the strategic partnership and deliver fruitful results through political security, economic and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides have grown to be each other’s largest trading partner, the most connotative cooperation partners and the most dynamic strategic partners.

It is in such a context that State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries gathered in Chongqing, not only to celebrate the 30th anniversary, but also to assess the past and look into the future. The Ministers had in-depth and extensive discussions and reached important consensus on deepening political mutual trust, enhancing anti-pandemic cooperation, boosting economic recovery and elevating ASEAN-China relations to a higher level.

After the meeting, the Co-Chairs’ Statement on the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Celebration of the 30th Anniversary was released. It reviewed what happened in the meeting and the consensus of the Ministers, including the blueprint of all-round cooperation in the future.

Ambassador Deng highlighted three points about the meeting:

First, it is a meeting of unique relevance and held at a critical moment. In the past 30 years, ASEAN-China dialogue relations have achieved leapfrog development with much milestone progress, becoming an important pillar for regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. Amid the grim COVID-19 pandemic and the complex and volatile international landscape, China and ASEAN held the special foreign ministers’ meeting to reaffirm commitment to deepening relations, jointly meeting challenges and planning for cooperation. The meeting sent out a positive signal of China and ASEAN jointly maintaining regional peace, stability, development and prosperity through greater solidarity and closer cooperation and strengthening the resolve and confidence of regional countries to tide over difficulties together in pursuit of common development.

Second, it was another face-to-face Foreign Ministers’ Meeting between China and ASEAN since the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the COVID-19 held in Vientiane, the Lao PDR, in February, last year. And it is also the first ministerial meeting between ASEAN and its dialogue partners this year. While doing a good job in keeping the pandemic under control, China extended sincere invitations to the foreign ministers of ASEAN countries who in turn overcame difficulties and managed to attend the meeting. The unusual gathering shows the great importance ASEAN countries attach to and their high expectations for ASEAN-China relations.

Third, the sixth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held back-to-back with the Special Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, ushering in another “golden five years” of Lancang-Mekong cooperation. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also had bilateral meetings with his counterparts and the ASEAN Secretary-General on the sideline where they had in-depth exchanges and reached important consensus on bilateral relations, ASEAN-China relations and regional and global cooperation. Therefore, the multilateral meeting turns out to be a good platform for bilateral engagement as well.

While emphasizing the achievements of this Special Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Ambassador Deng said that the Foreign Ministers took stock of the experience and progress of ASEAN-China relations. The successful development of ASEAN-China relations over the past 30 years could be attributable to the following facts:

The two sides always give top priority to each other in their diplomatic agenda, always put the people first and focus on pragmatic cooperation; the two sides always work together in the spirit of partnership to address major challenges; ASEAN and China always adhere to openness and development for mutual benefit and win-win results; the two sides always put differences in perspective and bear in mind the overall interests. At this crucial juncture of the 30th anniversary, we will draw valuable experience from the past and instill lasting impetus into the better and steadier growth of our relations.

According to Ambassador Deng, the Foreign Ministers also reached important consensus on deepening political mutual trust, enhancing cooperation among all areas, which will further promote ASEAN-China relations in the new era. He highlighted some of the most important consensus among the Ministers:

First, both sides applauded and affirmed the fruitful results since ASEAN and China established dialogue relations 30 years ago. They agreed to seek greater synergy of development strategies and elevate the bilateral relations to a higher level.

Second, both sides reaffirmed commitment to upholding multilateralism based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the international law, safeguarding the open and inclusive regional architecture and supporting ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation.

Third, both sides commended the assistance rendered to each other as well as the spirit of solidarity and partnership in fighting COVID-19. ASEAN Foreign Ministers thanked China for helping their countries combat COVID-19, especially with vaccines.

Fourth, both sides emphasized the need to push forward economic recovery through deepened cooperation. It’s important for China and ASEAN to work together for the early entry into force of RCEP, seize the opportunities of digital and green economy, implement the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, and lead global efforts in boosting economic recovery in the post-COVID era.

Fifth, both sides need to strive for a meaningful and productive ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation. Efforts should be made to beef up cooperation in such areas as health, education, youth, environmental protection, poverty alleviation, and disaster relief and prevention, deliver more high-standard projects that brings about sustainable development for the benefit of the people.

Sixth, both sides reaffirmed commitment to fully and effectively implementing the DOC in its entirety and maintaining the momentum of the COC consultations, as part of the concerted efforts to maintain stability in the South China Sea and promote regional development and prosperity.

Ambassador Deng pointed out that the upgrading of ASEAN-China relations enjoys bright prospects. China’s efforts to accelerate the building of a new development paradigm will provide ASEAN countries and the rest of the world with a bigger market, more opportunities and a stronger driving force.

Having entered the new era, China and ASEAN should be forward-looking, jointly champion and expand the path of regional cooperation with East Asian characteristics, build a higher-level ASEAN-China strategic partnership and a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

China also made some suggestions at the meeting about future priorities for ASEAN-China cooperation: including anti-pandemic cooperation, economic recovery, the upgrading of relations with ASEAN, the conclusion of COC at an early date，upholding multilateralism and promoting Asian values. China, as a responsible major country, will continue to respond to ASEAN’s needs by providing vaccines and strengthening cooperation in vaccine R&D, production, procurement and supervision with ASEAN countries to the best of our capability, as part of the efforts to enhance the capability of regional public health. China stands ready to work with ASEAN to follow through on leaders’ consensus and elevate ASEAN-China relations to a new height, thus opening up new prospect for the next 30 years of ASEAN-China relations.

Ambassador Deng also answered questions about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attendance of the Global Health Summit, governance of CPC, the sixth LMC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations, anti-pandemic and economic cooperation between China and ASEAN, RCEP, the South China Sea and Myanmar.