LI MIN/CHINA DAILY
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations celebrated the 35th anniversary of their dialogue relations in July, marking a significant milestone in what has been a very successful relationship. In 2021, this relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. On this momentous occasion, I would like to reflect on the past, assess the present and share my aspirations for the future.
ASEAN was established on Aug 8, 1967, during a period when China's relations with Southeast Asia were complex. Initially, China was cautious about ASEAN, perceiving the grouping as aligned with Western interests.
However, under the leadership of the late leader Deng Xiaoping, China adopted a more constructive approach toward ASEAN. Deng introduced a new forward-looking policy that positioned China as a "good neighbor, good friend and good partner" of ASEAN. This vision laid the foundation for decades of cooperation and mutual benefit between China and ASEAN.
What is the state of the China-ASEAN relationship today? The short answer is that it is in good order. In fact, it is one of ASEAN's most consequential dialogue partnerships.
ASEAN is important to China for several reasons. First, the group has overtaken the European Union and the United States to become China's largest trading partner. ASEAN boasts a market of around 700 million consumers, with rising incomes and purchasing power.
Second, ASEAN welcomes investment from China. In 2024, China was the third-largest investor in ASEAN, behind the US and the European Union. There is potential for China to invest more in ASEAN.
Third, ASEAN is a major source of raw materials for China. It also supplies components for China's manufacturing industries.
Fourth, some of the world's most important sea lanes, such as the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, lie in the region. Access to these sea lanes is critical for China.
Fifth, both China and ASEAN share a commitment to upholding the rules-based regional architecture. They are working toward an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. While differences remain, the CoC negotiations provide an invaluable platform for sustained dialogue and confidence-building.
Sixth, ASEAN maintains friendly relations with China and has refused to participate in any anti-China coalition or grouping. This is especially important given the heightened geopolitical rivalries and the increasingly challenging external environment.
For ASEAN too, China is equally important. Trade is the lifeblood of the region, and China is the largest trading partner for ASEAN countries, besides being a source of investment and frontier technologies. China is also the largest source of tourists for a region where tourism is an important pillar of the economy.
China has helped ASEAN member states upgrade their infrastructure and enhance regional integration and connectivity, with initiatives such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative playing key roles. Emerging areas of cooperation, such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the ASEAN Power Grid, offer further opportunities.
Moreover, China has consistently supported the central role that ASEAN plays in convening and chairing the various forums of the region, such as the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, and ASEAN Plus Three. It is important that China continues to work with ASEAN in advancing the ASEAN Outlook on the "Indo-Pacific", as this will help build strategic trust and ensure an open, inclusive regional architecture.
The future of China-ASEAN relations is bright. The two sides should expand their cooperation agenda to include new areas such as the green economy, the digital economy, supply chain resilience and artificial intelligence. They should continue to expand flight connectivity to facilitate closer people-to-people links. Building on this, both sides should also enhance their existing cooperation in education, training, cultural exchange and people-to-people exchange. Many more ASEAN students should be studying in China and Chinese students studying at universities in ASEAN.
Both sides should also work to build mutual trust. Trust is very important, because it can make many joint endeavors possible. Without trust, even well-intentioned cooperation will struggle to succeed.
A final word about the role of Singapore. In 2027, Singapore will serve as the chairman of ASEAN.
We will use our chairmanship to raise ASEAN's engagement with external partners to an even higher peak, including the China-ASEAN relationship.
