China has offered to formulate a China-Asean Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 “and upgrade the ‘2+7’ cooperation framework model into a ‘3+X’ cooperation framework.”
“This will be a new cooperation framework underpinned by the three pillars of political and security cooperation, economic cooperation and people-to-people exchange and supported by cooperation in multiple sectors,” Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said at the conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Manila on Wednesday.
He added there is a need to develop a joint vision for China-Asean relations as they both celebrate the 15th anniversary of China-Asean strategic partnership next year, adding, “It is necessary for us to plan for the mid -and long-term development of our relations.”
Li said the vision 2030 should be aligned with the development strategies of both sides and with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations by promoting cooperation on sustainable development.
“This will expand the global dimension of China-Asean cooperation and build a new paradigm for South-South cooperation,” he said.
Li added the two sides should start the drafting and consultation on this new vision as soon as possible to ensure that it can be submitted to the China-Asean summit next year for deliberation and adoption.
Li proposed to strengthen the bond of business cooperation, saying its over 1.3 billion people with rising household income, expanding middle-income group and increasingly diversified consumption made China “the most promising growth market in the world.”
“In the past five years, the Chinese economy registered an average annual growth of over 7 percent, contributing 30 percent to global growth and also boosting the economies of Asean countries,” he said.
Li said in cumulative terms, China’s import from the Asean has surpassed $1 trillion, and its direct investment in the Asean has reached $36 billion in the same period.
“This has made China an important export market and source of investment for Asean countries,” he added.
According to Li, China will set up a China-Asean Inter-bank Association Special Loan equivalent to RMB 10 billion to support China-Asean cooperation projects.
Since China conducts most of its trade through the South China Sea, Li said China looks forward to continue to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and actively advance consultations on the code of conduct (COC).
“The COC framework, agreed upon by all relevant parties, represents our common understanding on the main elements of the COC and is an important initial outcome of the COC consultation,” Li said.
He emphasized that China wants peace and stability there more than any other country.
And its commitment to the upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea will not change, “nor will we change our policy of peacefully resolving disputes over territory and maritime rights and interests through consultation and negotiation with countries directly concerned.”
“There is a saying in the Philippines, ‘A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound. (Matibay ang walis, palibhasa’y magkabigkis.)’ I am convinced that so long as China and the Asean stand more firmly together and work hand in hand to pursue common progress, we will create broad prospects for building a China-Asean community of shared future,” Li said.