Beijing (TDI): Exchanges between China and Southeast Asian nations have reached unprecedented levels, reflecting a shared aspiration for solidarity, cooperation, and development, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.
Addressing a media briefing, Lin highlighted the frequency of recent high-level interactions, describing the robust growth in relations between China and its neighbors as a testament to their integrated interests and shared future.
On the margins of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit in Peru, President Xi Jinping met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
This followed a series of engagements, including Premier Li Qiang’s participation in the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit alongside leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang visited Singapore to co-chair bilateral cooperation meetings, while Vice President Han Zheng toured Indonesia and Brunei.
Notable visits to China included Indonesia’s newly elected President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Lin outlined several significant achievements, including the advancement of bilateral and multilateral partnerships under the “community with a shared future” framework.
These include agreements between China and Indonesia, and enhanced cooperation with Malaysia and Mekong countries.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marked key progress, with fresh cooperation plans signed with Malaysia and Singapore.
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Infrastructure projects under the initiative have gained momentum, including: The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, which has served over six million passengers in its first year. Booming operations on the China-Laos Railway, facilitating regional connectivity, and steady progress on Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link project.
Additionally, the China-Laos-Thailand international freight train service was inaugurated, while China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations reached substantial conclusions.
Visa-free Policies
Visa-free policies between China and Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Laos have produced fruitful results, complemented by the implementation of the “Lancang-Mekong visa” policy.
On maritime issues, Lin stated that important agreements were reached to manage differences, enhance cooperation, and expedite the drafting of a code of conduct for the South China Sea to ensure peace and stability in the region.
China continues to prioritize its neighborhood in its overall diplomatic strategy, Lin emphasized.
“Asia and the Asia-Pacific are the shared home of China and neighboring countries,” the spokesperson said, reiterating Beijing’s commitment to fostering regional harmony and development.
The deepening ties between China and Southeast Asia underscore a shared vision for a prosperous and stable future, Lin concluded.
