Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính attends the 30th ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit. VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — ASEAN and China on Monday upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced the establishment of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership as he chaired the Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations via videoconference. 

Leaders of ASEAN member states highly appreciated the fact that General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping attended the Summit between ASEAN and China for the first time, demonstrating the concern and respect of China's top leaders for ASEAN.

Welcoming the important achievements since 1991, the two sides assessed the ASEAN-China relationship as a mutually beneficial, dynamic and substantive partnership. The announcement of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by ASEAN and China demonstrated the important results achieved in the comprehensive cooperation between the two sides over the past 30 years.

Speaking at the summit, PM Chính said the new partnership framework was indicative of the outcomes of cooperation between the two sides over the last 30 years.

ASEAN and China should continue consolidating strategic trust and fostering comprehensive cooperation in order to amplify past achievements and achieve greater goals and benefits in their bilateral ties.

Voicing support for major cooperation orientations proposed by the participating leaders, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of core factors like working together to sustain peace, stability and development in a changing environment and forging closer cooperation to effectively cope with new global challenges for comprehensive and inclusive development, prosperity, safety and sustainability for both sides.

He called for enhanced dialogue, trust consolidation, observation of international law, and responsible behaviour of all countries for full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and early conclusion of a working, substantive, and effective Code of Conduct for the South China Sea that is in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

He expressed his hope that ASEAN and China would soon restore and beef up economic, trade and investment cooperation, suggesting China facilitate the import of ASEAN goods towards balanced trade ties.

PM Chính affirmed Việt Nam would continue efforts to contribute to the advancement of ASEAN-China relations for peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations was held on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo

Good neighbours, friends and partners

Addressing the summit, Xi said: “China-ASEAN dialogue relations have gone through an extraordinary journey over the past three decades,” adding that the strategic partnership is a new milestone in the history of China-ASEAN relations and will inject new impetus into peace, stability, prosperity and development of the region and the world.

Regarding the future relations between China and ASEAN, Xi made several proposals.

First, pursuing dialogue instead of confrontation, building partnerships instead of alliances, and making concerted efforts to address the various negative factors that might threaten or undermine peace.

“China pursues long-term, friendly coexistence with neighbouring countries, and is part of the common efforts for durable peace in the region. China will never seek hegemony, still less bully smaller countries,” he said.

Second, he said China would be ready to work with ASEAN countries to jointly build a "health shield" for the region, including donating an additional 150 million doses of COVID vaccines to ASEAN countries and US$5 million to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund. The Chinese leader also mentioned support for ASEAN in strengthening primary-level public health systems and tackling other traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

Third, he proposed making effective use of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), upgrading the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), promoting economic integration, trade liberalisation, expansion of cooperation in science, technology and innovation.

Other proposals include digital economy and green economy, green investment and finance.

"Harmony with nature is the basis for humanity's sustained development," Xi said, adding that China would be ready to open a dialogue with ASEAN on climate response. 

He also highlighted the importance of building an amicable home together and urged the two sides to advocate common humanitarian values, promote people-to-people exchanges and deepen mutual learning between civilisations. — VNS