JAKARTA, 11 JUNE 2022 – Following the establishment of ASEAN-China Comprehensive Partnership (CSP) last year, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing their partnership and cooperation. This commitment was made at the 28th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Consultation held virtually on Friday, 10 June. China reaffirmed its support for ASEAN Community building and ASEAN Centrality in regional ASEAN-led mechanisms.
The meeting discussed developments in ASEAN and China, and took note of the progress made in various areas of cooperation, such as ICT, digital economy, education, public health, culture and information, media, environment, and sustainable development, and narrowing the development gap. Various activities have also been conducted under the ASEAN-China Sustainable Development Cooperation Year.
Both sides also continued to enhance cooperation in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, including China’s support and assistance to ASEAN Member States through medical supplies and provision of vaccines and the implementation of the Program on Public Health Emergency Preparedness Capacity (PROMPT).
The meeting discussed future direction of the ASEAN-China CSP. Several areas of cooperation were highlighted as priority for making the partnership more substantive, meaningful and mutually beneficial, such as further enhancing the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, effective implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, connectivity including air connectivity, digital economy, e-commerce, cybersecurity, clean energy, sustainable development, and environment protection.
Both sides are also working on a technical cooperation agreement to strengthen collaboration between ASEAN and China in support of ASEAN community building and integration.
The senior officials also exchanged views on matters related to regional security issues, including developments in the South China Sea. The meeting noted the need to enhance cooperation to address regional challenges such as non-traditional security threats, such as terrorism, human trafficking, illicit drug abuse and cybercrime.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Senior Official of Myanmar Chan Aye, and China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jiang Hao, and attended by senior officials from ASEAN Member States and the Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political-Security Community.
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