22^nd ASEAN-China Summit

On 3 November 2019, H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, chaired the 22^nd ASEAN-China Summit during the 35^th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. The Meeting reviewed the progress in the ASEAN-China cooperation framework and discussed future directions to strengthen their Strategic Partnership and the realisation of the ASEAN-China Strategic Vision 2030. 

The Leaders congratulated the Premier of the People’s Republic of China on the 70^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The Meeting expressed its appreciation for China’s continued support for ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture, and took note of the progress of negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. They also exchanged views on current regional developments and how to maximize benefits from the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA). Both sides reiterated their support for a rules-based multilateral trading system, increased trade value between ASEAN and China, and preparations for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). They discussed collaboration to enhance regional connectivity through synergies between the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In addition, they supported the promotion of people-to-people exchanges and welcomed the launch of the ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship Programme this year.

The Meeting issued the Chairman’s Statement of the 22^nd ASEAN-China Summit and adopted the Joint Statement on Strengthening Media Exchanges and Cooperation between ASEAN and China, the ASEAN-China Leaders’ Statement on Smart City Cooperation Initiative and the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Synergising the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Meeting also designated 2020 as the ASEAN-China Cooperation on Digital Economy Year. 

         China was accorded Dialogue Partner status at the 29th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in 1996 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and subsequently became a Strategic Partner for Peace and Prosperity at the 7th ASEAN-China Summit in 2003, in Bali, Indonesia. Last year, ASEAN and China celebrated the 15th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership and issued the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030.  The Philippines is currently the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations.

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