China and ASEAN build a closer community with a shared future

From March 31 to April 2, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with the visiting foreign ministers of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines in Nanping, Fujian. This is another important interaction between China and ASEAN countries after Wang Yi started his ASEAN tour in January.

In less than three months, the exchanges between China and ASEAN countries have become increasingly intimate like "walking relatives". This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. From the establishment of dialogue to frequent exchanges, China and ASEAN are constantly increasing political mutual trust, jointly promoting the upgrading of relations, and building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Deepen vaccine cooperation

The new crown epidemic is still spreading in ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. In this context, unity and cooperation to respond to the epidemic has become one of the key topics of the talks between the two sides. When meeting with the foreign ministers of the four countries respectively, Wang Yi emphasized that he would continue to deepen vaccine cooperation. At present, vaccines have become the ultimate weapon to overcome the epidemic, and they are also the focus of the next step of international anti-epidemic cooperation.

At the beginning of this year, Indonesia began to vaccinate people from China on a large scale, and President Joko Widodo became the first vaccinator; in the Philippines, whether it is government donations or commercial purchases, China is the first country to provide vaccines to the Philippines; Malaysia is also competing with China in the field of vaccines. There is cooperation.

Analysts believe that China adheres to the public product attributes of vaccines, unites and assists ASEAN countries in the face of the epidemic, and takes practical actions to resist "vaccine nationalism" and prevent the emergence of "vaccine gap", setting an example for global anti-epidemic cooperation.

As the Philippine Foreign Minister Luoqin said, China's provision of vaccines is not to carry out "vaccine diplomacy", but to demonstrate China's responsibility.

"Philippine Star" columnist Li Tianrong said that China provides vaccines to the Philippines, so that people can see the hope of defeating the epidemic. As one of the global leaders in the development of new crown vaccines, China is willing to share technology and experience with ASEAN. This is the strongest support for the region's fight against the epidemic and a model of good-neighborly and friendly cooperation.

Boost economic recovery

The epidemic has had an impact on the regional economy. China and ASEAN took the lead in promoting cooperation in resuming work and production, and jointly maintaining the stability of the regional industrial chain and supply chain, making this region a global anti-epidemic demonstration zone and a leader in economic recovery. Continuing to boost economic recovery will become a booster for the quality and upgrading of China-ASEAN cooperation.

In the past year, the economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN has risen against the trend. For the first time, the two sides have become each other's largest trading partners and jointly promoted the signing of a regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement, adding brilliance to the global economy.

According to the development plan, continuing the effect of last year's digital economy cooperation year and strengthening the design of this year's sustainable development cooperation year will be an important engine for China and ASEAN to boost economic recovery. China will deepen its connection with the "ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery framework" in building a new development pattern, expand mutual benefit and win-win results, and better achieve common development.

During the visit of Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishamuddin, the two sides launched the China-Malaysia Cooperation High-level Committee to plan to promote bilateral cooperation in the post-epidemic period. Hishamuddin said that Malaysia hopes to learn from China's experience in epidemic prevention and control and continue to add to the cooperation between the two countries in various fields in the post-epidemic period.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Leitno said that Indonesia looks forward to working with China in the post-epidemic period to jointly promote the construction of large projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail and expand cooperation in trade, investment, fishery, infrastructure construction and other fields.

Analysts pointed out that the economic cooperation between ASEAN and China enables the two sides to complement each other's advantages and can realize the effective allocation of resources, technology, capital, and markets, making them ideal partners. The two sides continue to deepen cooperation, which will expand the overall regional influence and promote the recovery and growth of the world economy.

Uphold multilateralism

The current international and regional situation is entering a period of turbulent change. Both China and ASEAN countries believe that to ensure lasting peace, prosperity and development in the region, we must support and practice multilateralism and insist that all countries have the right to choose their own development path.

At the conclusion of his visit to ASEAN countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines in January this year, Wang Yi said that the principles of ASEAN-led cooperation, consensus by consensus, and openness and inclusiveness are the precious fruits of multilateralism in the region. Facts show that adherence to regional and multilateral mechanisms is more important than ever, and adherence to multilateralism and win-win cooperation is the right way in the world.

Li Tianrong believes that the relationship between China and ASEAN is very stable, which is also the basis for regional and global stability. The cooperation between the two sides not only promotes economic growth and free trade, but more importantly, firmly supports multilateralism, which is the principle most needed in the world today.

This year, China and ASEAN will jointly commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations. Among the ASEAN dialogue partners, China has created a number of firsts: the first to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the first to establish a strategic partnership with ASEAN, the first to negotiate with ASEAN to establish a free trade area, the first to make clear Support ASEAN’s central position in East Asian regional cooperation.