(VOVWORLD) - The ASEAN-China Special Summit commemorating 30 years of the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relation opened on Monday under the chairmanship of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s attendance at the event reflects Vietnam’s responsibility and readiness to further promote the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which was established at the 24thASEAN-China Summit last month.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the ASEAN-China Special Summit commemorating 30 years of the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relation |
Established in 1991, the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relation has grown rapidly in all aspects bringing practical benefits to both sides. The summit is an opportunity for ASEAN and Chinese leaders to review the development of the relation in the last 3 decades and map out orientations to uplift bilateral ties in the future.
 ASEAN-China Special Summit commemorates 30 years of the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relation |
Milestones in the 30-year ASEAN-China relation
During this period, the two sides have seen remarkable developments in economic cooperation. Two-way trade has increased 80 fold. China has been ASEAN’s largest trade partner since 2009. In 2020, ASEAN became China’s largest trade partner. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral trade totaled nearly 517 billion USD last year.
Following the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement last November, China was the first partner of ASEAN to approve the pact. ASEAN and China are working closely at ASEAN-led mechanisms and forums to enhance connectivity and cooperation in tourism, ICT, science, agriculture, transport, and smart city development, among others.
China has respected ASEAN’s role and position in the region and the world and supported ASEAN’s centrality in the regional structure. Despite unprecedented fluctuations in the world and challenges due to COVID-19, the two sides have helped each other and worked closely to respond to the pandemic and promote post-pandemic recovery.
Vietnam enhances ASEAN-China links
As an active member of the ASEAN Community, Vietnam has cooperated with ASEAN countries and China to strengthen political dialogue, increase understanding, trust and mutual respect, and enhance comprehensive cooperation to make bilateral ties a model of stable and sustainable partnership between neighboring countries.
In 2020, when Vietnam was ASEAN Chair, ASEAN consolidated its unity and consensus, maintained cooperation, responded effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively cooperated with partner countries, and strengthened its central role in regional security. At the 37th ASEAN Summit last November, 10 ASEAN countries and 5 partner countries including China signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership creating a large market with 2.3 billion people and a GDP of 28.5 trillion USD. These proud achievements demonstrated a rule-based, open, balanced trade liberalization trend.
Vietnam and ASEAN countries are moving toward the 2025 ASEAN Vision by expanding cooperation with China on the basis of the UN Charter, international law, and mutual benefit to contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.
In the last 30 years, the ASEAN-China relation has grown strongly, particularly since they upgraded the relation to a strategic partnership 18 years ago. Throughout this time, Vietnam has contributed responsibly and effectively to the ASEAN-China relation to maintain peace, security, cooperation, and development in the region.