JAKARTA, 28 October 2022 – The Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community, Satvinder Singh, met with Ambassador Deng Xijun of the China Mission to ASEAN, today. They discussed the close partnership between ASEAN and China on various issues and the progress that both sides have made together on the goals laid out in the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity (2021-2025).

Deputy-Secretary General Singh appreciated the close economic relations and cooperation between both sides which cover a wide range of areas such as digital connectivity, e-commerce, circular economy, blue economy, the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and decarbonisation efforts in the region. 

He also highlighted the importance of enhancing ASEAN competitiveness by supporting economic recovery and integration through deeper sectoral cooperation in the areas of energy, transport, food and agriculture, tourism, and science and technology, as well as through the review of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area. Further, he appreciated the Mission’s role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and in promoting prevention and preparedness efforts, and looked forward to working closely to deepen ASEAN-China partnership and collaboration in the economic sector.