By Chiang Hee Tze
CHANGZHI (China), Aug 12 (Bernama) -- China and ASEAN have been urged to harness the power of the latest technological and industrial revolutions to accelerate coordinated development in the region.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for collaborative efforts between China and 10-member ASEAN bloc to foster and expand new productive forces across the region.
He emphasised the significant potential of the China-ASEAN relationship, highlighting their status as amicable neighbours with rapidly growing markets.
He expressed optimism that these efforts would inject new momentum into each country’s development and rejuvenation, provide new support for regional stability and prosperity, and contribute to the creation of a closer China-ASEAN community.
“These efforts will inject new momentum into each country’s development and rejuvenation, bolster regional stability and prosperity, and contribute to the creation of a closer China-ASEAN community,” he said at the opening ceremony of the 2024 ASEAN-China Week (ACW), themed ‘Achieving Prosperity through Innovation,’ in Changzhi, Shanxi Province, on Monday.
Wang’s remarks were read by Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) Shi Zhongjun.
Wang said since the announcement of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by Chinese President Xi Jinping and ASEAN leaders in 2021, significant progress has been made in building a China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
This partnership has brought the region’s 2 billion people closer together, fostering mutual respect and understanding, he said.
The ACC, an intergovernmental international organisation jointly established by China and ASEAN countries, in cooperation with the Shanxi Provincial People's Government, is holding ACW in Changzhi City.
This year's ACW has brought together senior officials and diplomats from China and several ASEAN member countries. Discussions will focus on "Invigorating Quality Growth with New Force" and "Interacting Through Mutual Learning Towards Harmony," aiming to further strengthen the ASEAN-China community.
Meanwhile, Shi also announced the launch of the ASEAN-China Import and Export Trade Service Platform (ACIESP). This platform supports 11 languages and provides tender information as well as historical bidding data.
In his opening speech, Shi highlighted that ASEAN and China have developed a relationship over the past three decades marked by mutual trust, support, and cooperation. This enduring partnership has fostered strong economic ties and fruitful cultural exchanges, enriching their comprehensive strategic partnership.
“Mutual understanding and learning between ASEAN and China bring forth harmony in our region and set a model of state-to-state relations in the world,” he said.
Shanxi Province Governor Jin Xiangjun also outlined four key initiatives to enhance cooperation between China and ASEAN - deepening cultural and tourism integration, fostering education and talent exchanges, strengthening people-to-people connections, and advancing trade and investment.
ASEAN has long been a key trade partner for Shanxi, with trade volume reaching 28.7 billion yuan (approximately US$4 billion) last year. In the first half of this year, trade with ASEAN countries amounted to 15.7 billion yuan (about US$2.19 billion).
“We must fully utilise the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and leverage key platforms such as the ASEAN Expo and the China International Import Expo to deepen economic and trade cooperation in advanced manufacturing, agriculture, traditional Chinese medicine, and other fields.
“We should also enhance cooperation in the energy sector, create new business opportunities, share benefits, and work together to build a closer community with a shared future and a more prosperous and beautiful tomorrow,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the ACC unveiled its mascot: the charming panda named 'Mengmeng.' This adorable panda symbolises the ACC’s mission to foster ASEAN-China relations with sincerity, dynamism, warmth, and excellence.
-- BERNAMA
