Speech by Ambassador Hou Yanqi at the Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations

19 June 2025

[Opening Session]

Your Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN,

Ambassador Sarah Al Bakri Devadason, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN, as the country coordinator for ASEAN-China relations, 

Distinguished Ambassadors, moderators, speakers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning. Welcome to the Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations 2025, co-hosted by the Chinese Mission to ASEAN and the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN, organized by the ASEAN Foundation.We extend our special gratitude to Secretary-General, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn for taking time to attend the opening ceremony and deliver the keynote speech.

Distinguished guests,

Emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence(AI), digital economy and green economy have become pivotal forces in reshaping the world essential resources，economic landscape and competitive dynamics. Malaysia, the rotating chair of ASEAN this year, has set the theme as “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, with one of the priority areas to make full use of scientific and technological innovation, digital transformation and new technological achievements. The ASEAN Community Vision 2045, adopted last month, identifies science and technology innovation and digital transformation as pivotal focus areas. As a close neighbor and dialogue partner of ASEAN, China fully supports the endeavor of ASEAN in these regards. We are pleased to see that ASEAN-China cooperation in emerging areas is booming and has become a new pillar and engine driving our practical collaboration forward.

I would like to address a few points:

First, China's emerging industries maintain a vigorous growth momentum, and have become an engine in the world economy. In 2024, China retained its position as the world's second largest digital economy. The added value of emerging industries in GDP rose from 7.6% in 2014 to over 18% in 2024. Exports value of the new Energy Vehicles(EVs), lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products - exceeded one trillion RMB for two consecutive years. China also accounts for over 50% of global newly installed industrial robots, 42% of global 5G standard essential patent declarations. Guided by the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has put forward initiatives such as the Global AI Governance Initiative and the Beijing Initiative for Belt and Road Green Development.We are willing to work with all parties to pursue high-level mutually beneficial cooperation, share new opportunities, and achieve new development.

Second, both ASEAN and China attach great importance to cooperation in emerging industries, and advance it as a priority area. In recent years, our leaders have issued a series of joint statements covering sustainable development, E-commerce, eletronic vehicle, digital ecosystem and smart agriculture. The "Plan of Action to implement the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" clearly states that we must implement the consensus reached by our leaders and deepen cooperation in areas such as digital economy, digital transformation, scientific and technological innovation, artificial intelligence, big data, and smart cities. We have fully concluded the ACFTA 3.0 upgrade negotiations, which incorporating new chapters on the digital economy and green economy.

Third, the development and growth of emerging areas requires a more open, inclusive and orderly international economic and trade environment. As the world economy landscape is undergoing profound adjustments, globalization is facing headwinds, while unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise. The successive unilateral tariff measures introduced by certain country have brought huge uncertainty and instability globally. Economic fragmentation and trade tensions continue to disrupt industrial and supply chains while weakening the momentum of global economic growth. In the face of risks and challenges, we need to open up markets, share resources among enterprises, and address risks and challenges through united consultation.

Distinguished Guests,

The year 2025 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN-China FTA. In April, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Last month, Premier Li Qiang visited Indonesia and attended the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit in Malaysia. Leaders from all parties agreed to expand cooperation in emerging and future industries such as digital and green economy. These not only underscore China's consistent emphasis on neighborhood diplomacy and its sustained high-frequency interaction with ASEAN member states, but also send a clear message of China's commitment to deepening economic ties with ASEAN and advancing regional integration to new heights.

Today’s Forum, themed "New Areas, New Engines and New Opportunities", represents one of the measures to implement the leaders' consensus. The Forum brings together distinguished guests from governments, academia and private sectors. We look forward to your valuable insights about opportunities and challenges in emerging areas under globalization, explore collaborative pathways for inclusive and sustainable growth as well as constructing a digital ASEAN and green ASEAN. I believe the Forum will make positive contributions to building a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

I wish the Forum a complete success! Thank you.

[Closing Session]

Dear Excellencies,

Respectful moderators and speakers,

Distinguished guests and friends,

It’s my great pleasure to join you in witnessing the successful conclusion of the the Jakarta Forum 2025. Focused on the theme "New Areas, New Engines and New Opportunities", the discussions have been productive and insightful, generating valuable recommendations for deepening ASEAN-China cooperation in emerging areas and jointly addressing global challenges traditionally and untraditionally. I’m profoundly inspired by all the insightful observations, fresh ideas and constructive solutions, and would like to summarize some of the points as follows:

First, embracing opportunities and tackling risks and challenges together.As developing emerging industries has become a strategic imperative for countries to foster new growth drivers and build new economic growth poles, China and ASEAN enjoy a solid foundation and vast potential for cooperation, with prominent advantages in market resources, including the big population of younger generations. We should uphold the right direction of economic globalization, practice true multilateralism, seize the opportunities presented by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, safeguard free trade and the stable functioning of global industrial and supply chains. We should uphold opening-up while aligning high-standard international economic and trade rules, which will send a strong message of our firm commitment to the multilateral trading system and lay a solid foundation to the new industry particularly for developing countries.

Second, fostering a conducive environment for emerging industries. Fully implement the leaders’ joint statements and enhance comprehensive exchanges and cooperation on policies, strategic planning, standards and regulatory measures to further consolidate our strategic mutual trust. We should together, from the government level, leverage mechanisms such as the ASEAN-China Digital Ministers’ Meeting, advance the establishment of ASEAN-China Minister-level Dialogue on Energy and Clean Energy Cooperation Centre, and explore the creation of ASEAN-China Blue Economy Partnership. We should also hand-in-hand promote the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, implement the RCEP with high quality, and expedite the construction of the ACFTA 3.0.  

Third, unleashing innovation vitality and advancing capacity building so as to promote high-quality development in key sectors such as digital economy and green transition. We could increase investment in research centers and innovation labs, launch flagship projects with high technological value, large investment volume and strong industrial spillover effects. Advance the manufacturing sector toward higher-end, smarter, and greener development, to unlock the growth potential through technological empowerment. We should also encourage more exchanges and cooperation among governments, industries, financial institutions, academia and research institutions, support joint research involving think tanks and private sectors, and facilitate regular dialogues between SMEs and universities to share experiences and best practices. As a key point in our endeavor, we should also encourage scholarships in new areas.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The economic and trade relations and pragmatic cooperation between ASEAN and China represent a tangible two-way endeavor and a model of mutual benefit and shared development. I am confident that by deepening collaboration in emerging fields, we will cultivate more new drivers and create more opportunities for regional growth, and contribute even more to global prosperity.

Once again I’d like to express our profound gratitude to the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN and the ASEAN Foundation as well as the ASEAN Secretariat and all the moderators, speakers and participants for your joint contributions. In closing, I hereby have the honor to announce the successful conclusion of the Forum.

Thank you all and looking forward to your consistent support in the future.