On 8 March 2016, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi talked about the China-ASEAN relations at a press conference held by the Fourth Session of the Twelfth National People's Congress.

The Cambodia Daily: The first Lancang-Mekong River Cooperation Leaders' Meeting will take place in late March. How will China support ASEAN's development?

Wang Yi: This year is, if you will, the "silver wedding" anniversary of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. For a quarter century, our relationship has stood all kinds of tests and our cooperation has borne rich fruits. Now the relationship has reached a new starting point. We will further follow President Xi's guideline of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness for dealing with our neighbors, and work hard to build an ever closer China-ASEAN community of common destiny.

We see ASEAN as a preferred partner in Belt and Road cooperation. We want to ensure the success of the China-Laos Railway, the China-Thailand Railway and the Jakarta-Bangdung High-speed Railway that China and Indonesia are building together. These are important building blocks of the Pan-Asian Railway Network. When they are completed, the people of China and ASEAN countries will find it easier to visit each other.

ASEAN is our preferred partner in FTA cooperation. We want to ensure the success of the upgraded version of the China-ASEAN FTA, so as to bring more benefits to businesses and people on both sides. And we want to actively advance the RCEP negotiation and try to wrap it up before the end of the year.

ASEAN is our preferred partner in regional cooperation. At the end of this month, Premier Li Keqiang will invite the leaders of all countries along the Lancang-Mekong River, namely Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand, to gather in Hainan Province for the first Lancang-Mekong River Cooperation Leaders' Meeting. The Lancang and Mekong connect all six countries. We drink from the same river, and our destinies are intertwined. What makes Lancang-Mekong River cooperation different is that it is more down-to-earth and more efficient. To date, we have prepared 78 early harvest items. Lancang-Mekong River cooperation is a useful supplement to China-ASEAN cooperation. It can help boost the holistic and balanced development of ASEAN.

ASEAN is also our preferred partner in maritime cooperation. We want to make good use of the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund, and step up cooperation on the ocean economy, marine environmental protection and maritime security. In the meantime, we want to explore the possibility of establishing a South China Sea littoral states cooperation mechanism, and work together to maintain and build our common home, the South China Sea.