Spokesman speaks highly of China-ASEAN partnership

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun emphasized the importance of China-ASEAN cooperation on Wednesday, saying that their ever-deepening comprehensive strategic partnership has brought stability and certainty into the development of Asia and the world.

At a regular news briefing, Guo noted that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are bound by geographical proximity, shared values and intertwined interests. He added that as the international situation grows more complex, it is all the more vital for both sides to stay committed to cooperation and pursue win-win results.

Guo said that high-level exchanges between China and the ASEAN remain frequent, mutual political trust has been further strengthened, and the momentum of integrated development continues to grow.

Both sides have leveraged their complementary advantages to strengthen the integration and resilience of industrial and supply chains, Guo said. He added that they are expected to formally sign a protocol for upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area to version 3.0 within this year, a move that will give fresh momentum to regional economic integration and global trade.

Official data shows that China's trade with ASEAN in the first three quarters of this year reached 5.57 trillion yuan (about $780 billion), up 9.6 percent year-on-year, with ASEAN remaining China's largest trading partner.

Guo added that cooperation in emerging fields, such as artificial intelligence and the digital economy, continues to flourish — opening new prospects for innovation-driven growth.

The spokesman also highlighted vibrant people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two sides. Beijing has introduced an "ASEAN visa" policy, achieving full mutual visa exemption with Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, while implementing a reciprocal visa-free policy for citizens of China and Brunei.

China and ASEAN are jointly committed to safeguarding regional peace and stability, Guo said. He reaffirmed China's firm support for ASEAN's central role in the region's architecture, and for resolving internal matters the "ASEAN Way".

On the South China Sea issue, he stressed that China remains committed to properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and accelerating consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

Looking ahead, Guo said China will continue to follow the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, while working with regional countries to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.