From Siti Zanariah Nor Zin
BEIJING, June 30 (Bernama) -- China will continue to strengthen bilateral and multilateral development cooperation with ASEAN to deliver more pragmatic outcomes and promote the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) spokesperson Tang Ying said the partnership provides new momentum to expand cooperation while contributing towards regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
She noted that both sides also serve as vital partners in co-building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and implementing the Global Development Initiative (GDI).
“For a long time, China has focused on aligning its development strategies with ASEAN, carrying out numerous items of pragmatic cooperation in areas such as capacity building, planning consultation, and disaster prevention and mitigation,” she said in response to a question from Bernama at CIDCA’s second-quarter press conference here on Tuesday.
Tang said under the framework of the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund (GDSSCF), China has partnered with international organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to implement more than 20 projects in cooperation with ASEAN member states.
The projects span poverty alleviation, education, health, and food assistance, she said.
Tang said China has also conducted human resources development cooperation with ASEAN countries, focusing on priority areas for livelihood development such as public administration, economy and trade investment, and agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries, playing an active role in regional economic and social development.
Tang said the China-ASEAN Disaster Management Cooperation Project, which was launched this year, will further enhance regional disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities, injecting fresh momentum into building a more resilient ASEAN region.
In another development, Tang said the Chinese government has decided to provide an additional emergency humanitarian material assistance worth RMB100 million to Venezuela to support the country’s disaster response and reconstruction efforts, following the recent devastating earthquake.
-- BERNAMA
