A closer Asean-China community with a shared future will lead the trend of times of building a community with a shared future for mankind
- The Chinese vision of building a shared future has developed into substantive action, giving a strong boost to global governance in various sectors
- China and Asean can work together to overcome common challenges, advance open regionalism and boost cooperation opportunities
We have a rich historical heritage for building a closer Asean-China community with a shared future. The Chinese culture of harmony aligns with the value of unity in the diversity of Asean, which constitutes a cultural gene of a community with a shared future. Since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1991, the Asean-China relationship has achieved leapfrog developments. In 2021, we took the lead in establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Building a closer Asean-China community is based on our common needs. China is advancing Chinese modernisation through high-quality development, and Asean is committed to its motto “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. We are facing similar challenges of promoting economic recovery, improving people’s livelihood, and maintaining regional peace and stability. China will continue to contribute to the efforts of Asean community building with Chinese modernisation, and support Asean’s modernisation along its own development path, so that an Asean-China community with a shared future will benefit more people in the region.
There are bright prospects awaiting a closer Asean-China community. As members of the Global South, we provide each other with important development opportunities and have tremendous potential for cooperation. China is vigorously developing new quality productive forces, while Asean is accelerating industrial transformation and upgrading.
It is important for both sides to seize opportunities to enhance strategic synergy and integrated development, and lead cooperation in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, blue economy, and low-carbon transformation to sustain the region as an epicentre of growth.
We must advance true multilateralism and open regionalism, jointly implement the three important global initiatives, and work together to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world. We must also push for universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation to continuously inject stability and certainty into the world.
The Lao PDR, the rotating chair of Asean, has designated this year’s theme as “Asean: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”. It is also the Asean-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges. China is strengthening synergy and cooperation with Asean around the above themes, committed to creating fruitful results, promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations and people-to-people bonds, and injecting rich connotations into the East Asia cooperation as well as the Asean-China community.
Where the heart goes, the action follows. China is ready to work closely with Asean to promote a higher-level comprehensive strategic partnership, build a closer Asean-China community, and lead the trend of the times towards a community with a shared future for mankind.
Hou Yanqi is a Chinese diplomat serving as the ambassador to Asean.