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China to prioritise Southeast Asia with upgraded relations, development aid
- President Xi Jinping tells Asean summit that China is a good neighbour, as he pledges US$1.5 billion to help pandemic control and economic recovery
- Beijing’s ties with the region are complicated by South China Sea dispute and competing Indo-Pacific strategies of US and EU
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China has raised the importance it places on Southeast Asia in its diplomacy, pledging to upgrade relations with the region to focus more on security cooperation and development funding.
The move was announced on Monday by Chinese President Xi Jinping, as major powers including China, the United States and the European Union vie to expand their influence in the region, a key component in their Indo-Pacific strategic tussle.
Xi said ties between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) would be elevated from strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership – which generally means security cooperation will be strengthened.
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He said China would provide US$1.5 billion in development assistance to help Asean nations with pandemic control and economic recovery for the next three years, and deliver 150 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to Southeast Asia as well as give US$5 million to an Asean pandemic fund.
02:16
Philippine fishermen claim continued Chinese harassment on South China Sea
Philippine fishermen claim continued Chinese harassment on South China Sea
Beijing would also upgrade the free-trade zone with Asean that was established in 2011, and transfer more advanced technology to Asean nations, he said.
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