FM to attend two meetings over China-ASEAN relations

BEIJING - Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations and the sixth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Chongqing, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Sunday.

The meetings will be co-chaired by Wang Yi and diplomats from relevant ASEAN countries from June 7 to 8, according to spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

Wang Wenbin said that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN, which sees special significance for the bilateral relations to build on the past achievements and pursue new progress.

As the most successful and dynamic example of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, China-ASEAN cooperation has grown in leaps and bounds over the past three decades, Wang Wenbin said, adding that the face-to-face meeting under the ongoing grim COVID-19 situation reflects how countries attach great importance to and hold high expectations of China-ASEAN relations under the new circumstances.

Wang Wenbin said that the Chinese side expects to work with ASEAN to take stock of and summarize the outcomes and experience of China-ASEAN cooperation in the past 30 years, focus on combating COVID-19 and promoting economic recovery, better dovetail strategic plans and foster new highlights in practical cooperation to upgrade the relationship and make new contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.

He introduced that on the sidelines of the special meeting, Wang Yi will also hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of ASEAN states and the ASEAN Secretary-General.

Wang Wenbin said as a new-type sub-regional cooperation mechanism featuring extensive consultation between China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, the LMC has developed rapidly and achieved remarkable results, promoted the economic and social development of the six riparian countries vigorously and brought tangible benefits to the people.

Since last year, amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the six countries have vigorously carried out cooperation to fight the epidemic, resume work and production and strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges and maintained the momentum of LMC growing from strength to strength, he said.

"To convene the sixth Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the launch of LMC bears important significance to breaking new ground on the basis of past achievement," Wang Wenbin said, adding that China hopes to take stock of progress made in the past five years together with the five Mekong countries, summarize the experience and further deepen cooperation in various fields.

"We will work together to develop the Mekong-Lancang Economic Development Belt, reinvigorate regional economic recovery and prosperity in the post-pandemic era, and contribute to ASEAN Community building and regional economic integration," Wang Wenbin said.