China pledges improved relations during ASEAN summit

World Today

“25 years of rapid development” – That was how Chinese Premier Li Keqiang described China-ASEAN ties during his speech at the ASEAN-China Summit on Wednesday. These ties were formally established as dialogue relations in 1991.

CCTV’s Gary Anglebrandt reports on the meeting.

The 19th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Summit began this week. The meeting commemorates the 25th anniversary of dialogue relations between the two sides in the Lao capital Vientiane.

Broad agreements have been reached, including statements addressing accidental encounters between China and ASEAN members in the South China Sea.

Li pledged to lift the relationship to a new level by building a closer community and shared future. He put forward a five-point proposal, calling on China and ASEAN to cement their strategic communications, advance the 2+7 framework, and energetically promote cultural exchanges.

The Chinese premier expressed China’s stance on the South China Sea issue. He said China is willing to work with ASEAN countries in fending off interference, and properly handling the issue. He called for following the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and a dual-track approach.

Multiple agreements were also reached on managing differences properly. One is on a China-ASEAN industrial capacity statement. Another issued guidelines on a senior diplomatic hotline that exists to address maritime emergencies. There also is one that covers accidental encounters between China and ASEAN nations in the South China Sea. 

ASEAN leaders said closer relations with China would benefit ASEAN nations, and they are ready to lift China-ASEAN relations to a new level. 


China-ASEAN looks to next 25 years of partnership

Amid the high-level talks over critical geopolitical and economic issues, there was room too on Wednesday for a bit of cake and a celebration – to mark the 25 years of China’s dialogue partnership with ASEAN.

CCTV’s Rian Maelzer has more.

A short video showed highlights of a quarter century that has seen trust greatly improved, strategic and people-to-people ties grown closer and trade and investment surged.

Both host Laos’ Prime Minister and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang expressed the belief that those ties would broaden and deepen in the years ahead. While most members seemed eager to keep the South China Sea territorial disputes out of the limelight if not entirely off the table, the Philippines defense ministry released photos of what it said were Chinese boats near a disputed shoal.

But later, Philippines officials took a diplomatic tack on the dispute.

“The conversation proceeds toward a certain goal of eventually being able to settle matters. It’s an on-going process,” said Philippines presidential spokesman.

The Chinese vice-foreign minister said China is confident of repairing ties with the Philippines.

Leaders of China, South Korea and Japan also sat down with ASEAN leaders. And despite tensions between the parties over several issues, they all remain on side for speedily concluding a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or R-CEP with their ASEAN neighbors.


Einar Tangen China-ASEAN relations

For more about China-ASEAN ties, CCTV’s Rachelle Akuffo interviewed current affairs commentator, Einar Tangen.