The 3rd ASEAN-China Dialogue Successfully Concluded

On 8 September 2015, the 3rd ASEAN-China Dialogue was successfully concluded in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

Mr. Yong Chanthalangsy, Director-General of Institute of Foreign Affairs of Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chair of ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN ISIS) and Mr. Su Ge, President of China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) delivered closing remarks respectively.

Ambassador Yong Chanthalangsy summarized the discussions at the Dialogue, and expressed that ASEAN and China shall enhance strategic communication and mutual trust, integrate development strategies of each other, and make joint efforts to promote all-dimensional and win-win cooperation in economy, connectivity, maritime and social-cultural and other areas. It was suggested that 'One Belt One Road" and Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) shall complement and reinforce each other. He remarked that the Dialogue was successful in sharing the wisdom, enlarging consensus and promoting cooperation, and expected think tanks of both sides could provide valuable intellectual support to the further elevation of ASEAN-China relations.

Ambassador Su Ge remarked that ASEAN and China were good neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. The most important common interest, common demands and common aspiration forASEAN and China were to accelerate development, maintain stability and deepen cooperation respectively. China took ASEAN as the priority of its relations with neighboring countries. The ASEAN Community would be realized by the end of 2015. 2016 would mark the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations. ASEAN-China relations embraced new opportunities for further development. Both sides were joining hands to build the 2+7 Cooperation Framework, "One Belt One Road" and a Community of Common Destiny. He expected ASEAN-China relations would be elevated to a higher level, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world at large.

During the two-day Dialogue, about 60 scholars from major think tanks of ASEAN and China conducted in-depth and candid discussions on four sessions namely, "One Belt One Road and Building ASEAN Community", "21st Century Maritime Silk Road and Maritime Cooperation", "Regional Security and New Type of Relationship between Countries", and "Facing Common Challenges as Integral Whole with a Common Destiny". H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), was present at the Dialogue.

At the sidelines of the event, Secretary-General Yang interacted with the participants, and briefed on ACC's mandate and efforts to enhance ASEAN-China functional cooperation in priority areas of trade, investment, education, culture and tourism. The participants commended ACC's fruitful achievements in facilitating functional cooperation, and expected to strengthen communication and cooperation with ACC and join hands to enhance exchanges and cooperation between think tanks of ASEAN and China.