Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday, November 13, expressed China’s commitment to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in a bid to build a community of shared future.
During the 20th ASEAN-China Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), the Chinese Premier also touted the relations between China and ASEAN, saying it is the most dynamic and the most substantive.
In his brief remarks, the Premier expressed his gratitude to the Philippines for its efforts made for the Summit.
He also thanked Singapore, the coordinator of China-ASEAN relations, and all the other ASEAN countries for the contribution made to China-ASEAN relations.
The Premier also noted that ASEAN has traversed a momentous journey and made remarkable progress and achievements in the past 50 years.
“Among ASEAN’s dialogue partners, China-ASEAN relations are the most dynamic and the most substantive,” he said, adding that China was the first to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia.
The purpose of the Treaty is to promote perpetual peace, everlasting amity and cooperation among their peoples, which would contribute to their strength, solidarity and closer relationship.
“It is fair to say that friendly relations between China and ASEAN is a consensus of all ASEAN countries,” he said.
The Premier further noted that China is the first to establish strategic partnership with ASEAN and the first to launch FTA negotiations with the organization.
He also said China always sees ASEAN as a priority in their neighborhood diplomacy.
“We are committed to work with ASEAN to the good neighbors, good friends, and good partners that always stand together, rain or shine,” he said.
“We are also committed to working with ASEAN to build a community of shared future featuring common ideas, common prosperity and a common responsibility,” he added.
For his part, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed hopes that the Summit would provide yet another opportunity for Asia and China to assess the current status and chart the future direction of their strategic partnership.
“I look forward to having a fruitful and productive meeting that shall demonstrate our common resolve of mutual understanding toward the realization of our shared goals and aspiration,” he said.
President Duterte also expressed confidence that the meeting would pave way to even greater ASEAN-China cooperation as China and the ASEAN reach another milestone in 2018, which is the 15th anniversary of the elevation of the ASEAN-China dialogue partnership into a strategic partnership. PND
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