Keynote Speech at the Seminar to Commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership

(9 April 2018, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Jakarta)

Your Excellency Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General of ASEAN,

Your Excellency Jose Antonio Morato Tavares, Director-General for ASEAN Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia,

Your Excellency Tan Hung Seng, Permanent Representative of Singapore, Chair of ASEAN,

Prof. Jiang Ruiping, Vice President of China Foreign Affairs University,

Dr. Arie Soesilo, Dean of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia,

Dear Ambassadors,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning！

A warm welcome to all of you to this seminar. I would also like to thank China Foreign Affairs University and Universitas Indonesia for kindly co-sponsoring this seminar. In 2003, China became the first dialogue partner to forge strategic partnership with ASEAN. Our relationship has grown exponentially in the decade and half, through tackling common challenges and upholding peace and prosperity. To quote from Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, “China-ASEAN cooperation has become most successful and dynamic in the Asian-Pacific region”.

--It has been a journey of shared growth. China, as a pivotal member of WTO, has grown the size of its economy from US$1.6 trillion, ranking No.6 in the world, to US$12 trillion, second only to the United States. Along the way, it has contributed a steady 30% to growth worldwide, and deeply integrated itself into the regional and world economy.

In the meantime, ASEAN has been growing rapidly, now the 6th largest economy in the world and the first-ever sub-regional community across Asia. ASEAN’s success story made itself a role model of strength through unity among countries so rich in diversity. China has been a staunch supporter for ASEAN’s community building and integration. Indeed, we are each other’s cheerleader on the way towards greater progress.

--It has been a journey of kindred spirits. The path of growth is fraught with challenges, natural and man-made. Together, we have stood the test and proven solidarity and resilience. China will never forget the valuable support from ASEAN countries in the fight against the SARS epidemic. And in the wake of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, China was among the first to the rescue and reconstruction efforts. The international financial crisis took a heavy toll worldwide, yet we stood by each other’s side as true friends and emerged stronger.

--It has been a journey of cooperation for mutual benefits. The establishment of the China-ASEAN FTA in 2010 has been a major boost to our trade relations. Two-way trade jumped from US$55 billion to US$514 billion in 2017, nearly ten-fold increase in a span of 15 years. China has become ASEAN’s largest trading partner for nine consecutive years and ASEAN China’s third largest for seven straight years. Two-way direct investment totals nearly US$200 billion in aggregate terms. Mutual visits in 2017 reached 49 million, and the exchange of international students exceeded 200,000. A model of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation has taken shape.

--It has been a journey of learning to handle differences and shaping interactions. We have come to the consensus to respect each other, accommodate each other’s concerns, and seek a proper management of differences through dialogue and consultation. China and ASEAN countries are committed to the full and effective implementation of the DOC, while moving earnestly on the COC consultation. With concerted efforts, tangible outcomes are already on the ground. We have shown the will and ability to work out rules on our own, rules that will meet our region’s imperatives and be adhered to by all.

--Above all, it has been a journey of upholding peace and prosperity of the region. ASEAN provides an essential platform for dialogue and cooperation among countries in and outside the region. China shares ASEAN’s vision for regional cooperation and the ASEAN Way, and with other dialogue partners, has actively participated in ASEAN-led frameworks and moved ahead regional cooperation process, with ASEAN at the driving seat. China and ASEAN both champion free trade and economic globalization and are working together to uphold the hard-earned peace, stability and development of the region.

The China-ASEAN strategic partnership is growing ever more mature, as a result of our enduring efforts to nurture mutual trust, deepen good-neighborly friendship, seek win-win cooperation and uphold regional stability. The remarkable achievements we have seen today have laid solid ground for our renewed partnership in the decades to come.

The recently-concluded annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have been a landmark event, sending strong signals for deepening reform and opening up, and pursuing high-quality growth. ASEAN, on its part, has embarked on its second 50-year journey and is drawing a new blueprint under the theme of "Resilience and Innovation". China and ASEAN are entering a new era hand in hand.

President Xi Jinping proposed that China and ASEAN jointly forge a higher level of strategic partnership and build a closer community of shared future which mapped out the direction for the development of China-ASEAN relations. Premier Li Keqiang proposed upgrading the China-ASEAN cooperation framework from 2+7 to 3+X and reached important consensus with ASEAN leaders on formulating the “China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030” as an outcome for this year’s commemorative summit. It is both relevant and opportune to look ahead and craft out our visions for this partnership. If our partnership over the past 15 years is version 1.0, we expect version 2.0 of the next 15 years to be more substantive, forward-looking, carrying more significance both regionally and internationally.

May I use five key words to lay out my vision with regard to the future of China-ASEAN strategic partnership.

The first is “pioneering”. The 19th CPC National Congress last October set the goals of building a community of shared future for mankind and a new type of international relations featuring mutual trust, justice and win-win cooperation. Not long ago, the latest session of the NPC adopted the Constitutional amendments, with the inclusion of concepts like “following a path of peaceful development”, “pursuing a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up”, and “working to build a community with a shared future with the rest of the world”. ASEAN is our top priority in neighborhood diplomacy. China-ASEAN relationship can be a pioneering model for the materialization of these goals.

The second is “strategic”. Amid rising uncertainties and complex changes in the global and regional landscape, China-ASEAN relations should play a strategic role in propelling East Asia cooperation and safeguarding regional stability. We will explore rules and architecture for security cooperation that accord with the characteristics of this region, and accelerate the negotiations on RCEP. We can map out a blueprint towards the vision of an East Asia Economic Community that enhances the multilateral trade system and economic integration, while firmly fending off temptations for unilateralism and trade protectionism.

The third is “forward-looking”. China is dedicated to achieving the “Two Centenary Goals”, while ASEAN is working hard towards the “ASEAN Community Vision 2025”. The “China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030”, currently under formulation, can be a bridge to connect the two. We shall enhance synergies between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025. We should also look in the long run and map out shared visions that reflect our peoples’ aspiration, and serve as a beacon for the growth of our relations.

The fourth is “innovative”. Innovation is the primary force driving development. Our relations will grow abreast with the times, with new areas explored and growth potentials released. We will move forward sub-regional cooperation frameworks like the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and explore a new model of cooperation with BIMP-EAGA, as supplements to the China-ASEAN cooperation. This year is the China-ASEAN Year of Innovation. We will further synergize our innovation strategies and collaborate in the areas of industrial technology, digital technology, smart cities and cultural products.

Last but least, it is “people-centered”. The new era of China-ASEAN relations belongs to our 2 billion people. We shall tailor our cooperation to the needs and interests of our people. We shall continue to expand people-to-people exchanges and strengthen the third pillar of China-ASEAN relations and help raise the awareness of China-ASEAN community of a shared future among the public.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As Charles Darwin once said: "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." In such a time of great changes, what is needed more than anything else is vision and the ability to have the vision translated into reality. China will continue to view ASEAN with highest priority and work to lift our strategic partnership towards a community of shared future.

The sound and stable growth of our relations is not possible without the care and support from friends of the academia. I hope all the great minds present today will have in-depth discussion and contribute your valuable ideas on drawing a new blueprint for China-ASEAN strategic partnership.

Thank you!