Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries should strengthen their confidence and solidarity in making joint efforts to inject more positive energy into regional stability and prosperity.
Wang said that China is willing to continue working with ASEAN countries to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as he met with diplomatic envoys of ASEAN countries in Beijing.
The top Chinese diplomat urged the two sides to firmly uphold multilateralism and free trade, sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as scheduled, and jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea area.
Founded in 1967, the ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Market Opportunities
Speeding up the preparation of a new development pattern is the inevitable trend of China's economic growth, Wang said as he introduced the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's proposals for mapping out the blueprint for China's development in the next 15 years.
The document was adopted at the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, which closed on October 29.
Wang added that the hosting of the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) this year demonstrates China's sincere desire to share its market opportunities with the world and its commitment to broader opening-up.
China's domestic markets will continue to expand and will provide more opportunities to many countries, including ASEAN countries, for their economic growth. At the same time, it also helps with the global economic recovery, he said during a meeting with the envoys.
The envoys of the 10 ASEAN countries commented positively on the development of ASEAN-China relations in various fields and expressed their hope to better align development strategies with China, advance consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and jointly maintain peace and stability in the region.
(With input from Xinhua)
