Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs, co chaired the meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad of the China ASEAN Relations Coordinating Country. Foreign ministers from ASEAN countries and the Secretary General of ASEAN attended the meeting.

Wang Yi stated that this year marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the China ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Under the joint strategic guidance of the leaders of both sides, China ASEAN cooperation has been at the forefront, stable, and fast pace, achieving fruitful results and benefiting more than 2 billion people on both sides. The foundation for building a closer China ASEAN community with a shared future is even more solid. The development process of China ASEAN relations shows that mutual respect and trust are the foundation of good neighborliness, sincerity is the way of coexistence, cooperation and win-win are the basis for success, and openness and inclusiveness are the key to prosperity. These are valuable experiences that are worth continuing to promote.

Wang Yi said that China has just solemnly commemorated the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC. Over the past 105 years, the CPC has united and led more than 1.4 billion Chinese people in their unremitting struggle, creating remarkable achievements, greatly promoting the progress of human civilization, and profoundly changing the world development pattern.   China is willing to adhere to the principles of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win with ASEAN, to benefit the people of all countries in the region through closer cooperation, to respond to emerging challenges and uncertainties with stronger unity, and to continuously promote the construction of the "Five Great Homes", so that China ASEAN cooperation can continue to be the engine of Asia's development and revitalization, the model of Asia Pacific regional cooperation, and the benchmark for global southern unity and self-improvement, injecting a powerful force for lasting stability, prosperity, and goodness into the turbulent and changing world.

Wang Yi put forward four suggestions: firstly, to maintain a peaceful development environment in the region. Taking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia as an opportunity, we will promote the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness, firmly oppose unreasonable external interference, resist the construction of exclusive "small circles", refuse to provoke confrontation among factions, and never allow militarism to resurface. The second is to enhance the resilience of regional development. Adhere to open cooperation, deepen development integration, build the China ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 version, implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with high quality, and enhance regional food and energy security and supply chain stability. The third is to promote innovative and green development. Expand cooperation in emerging fields such as digital economy, artificial intelligence, and submarine cables, explore docking with the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, and accelerate cooperation in addressing climate change, clean energy, green agriculture, and blue economy. Fourthly, we must adhere to the principle of putting people first. Promote inclusive and inclusive development, making the achievements of China ASEAN cooperation tangible and better benefiting the people of all countries. China is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN in various fields such as poverty reduction, public health, education, youth, think tanks, tourism, media, and culture. Wang Yi also elaborated on China's principled stance on the South China Sea issue, stating that the South China Sea is our common home. China and ASEAN countries have the wisdom and ability to continue to handle the South China Sea issue well, making peace, stability, cooperation, and friendship the mainstream narrative of the South China Sea. Regional countries should strictly abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, while resisting external forces from stirring up trouble and opposing individual countries from using the sea to cause disturbances. They should firmly grasp the leading role in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. We are currently facing an important time window to achieve the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. We must seize the opportunity, eliminate interference, and strive to achieve our goals.

All parties highly appreciate the fruitful achievements of the ASEAN China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since its establishment five years ago, and unanimously express that China is one of the most important friendly neighbors and dialogue partners of ASEAN, as well as the largest trading partner of ASEAN. The relationship between ASEAN and China is the most dynamic and effective, bringing tangible benefits to the people of all countries. All ASEAN members support China's concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the four global initiatives. Congratulations to China for successfully hosting the World Artificial Intelligence Conference and establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. We highly appreciate China's support for the construction of the ASEAN community and ASEAN's central position in the regional architecture. Faced with the turbulent international situation, ASEAN countries look forward to strengthening strategic docking with China, enhancing their own development resilience, promoting high-quality connectivity, building the ASEAN China Free Trade Area 3.0 version, deepening cooperation in areas such as economic and trade investment, digital economy, artificial intelligence, climate change, clean energy, and combating cross-border crime, promoting cultural exchanges, and further consolidating the foundation of public opinion. All parties look forward to reaching the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" as soon as possible within the year and jointly maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. We are willing to work with China to uphold multilateralism, address global challenges, and build ASEAN China relations into a stable force for maintaining regional peace and development, as well as a benchmark for dialogue partners.

The meeting passed the Joint Statement of China ASEAN Foreign Ministers on Coping with the Impact of the Evolution of the Middle East Situation on the Region and Strengthening Regional Energy Cooperation.

During the meeting, Wang Yi also met with foreign ministers of relevant countries.Editor/Yang Meiling