Beijing, 14 September 2021 (TDI): China calls the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN Plus Three) for the recovery of economic ties and to keep the focus on the pandemic situation. The video conference was held on Monday among ASEAN Plus Three countries.
Trade Ministers if these states were part of that meeting for the enhancement of regional economic recovery, solution of trade problems, and severe pandemic conditions. Wang Wentao, China’s Minister of Commerce, highlighted the severe epidemic situation of ASEAN countries, and he stressed that to curb the pandemic, political manipulation should be avoided.
China’s Minister of Commerce also said in the video conference that China-ASEAN has had strong relations for the last thirty years, and it’s time to take joint initiatives for enhanced development in the Asia Pacific region. For that, he said, it is the requirement of time to strengthen trade relations and through mutual consensus.
Moreover, he mentioned that taking such steps in trading will be mutually beneficial for all participant states. He emphasized seeking regional integration by removing hurdles in the trading supply chain. He suggested that ASEAN Plus Three states should promote comprehensive cooperation to recover the COVID-19 hit economy.
The Ministers also highlighted that Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) can have an important contribution in continuing the China-ASEAN trading system.
