ASEAN and China need to maintain their role as growth engines in the Asia-Pacific.

Entering the third working day, which is also the last day of the 47th ASEAN Summit and related Summits, on the morning of October 28, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, ASEAN leaders and Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the 28th ASEAN-China Summit.

View of the 28th ASEAN-China Summit. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Before the Summit, ASEAN and Chinese Leaders witnessed the signing ceremony of the Protocol to Upgrade the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA 3.0).

At the Summit, the Leaders assessed that the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is an important pillar, contributing to ensuring peace and stability in the region, and is also one of the most dynamic and comprehensive relationships of ASEAN. ASEAN and China are currently each other's leading trade partners, with total two-way trade reaching 772.4 billion USD and FDI from China to ASEAN reaching 19.3 billion USD in 2024.

The Leaders affirmed their determination to further deepen bilateral relations and agreed to choose 2026 as the "ASEAN-China Year" to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with many rich and meaningful commemorative activities.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks at the conference. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

The two sides stressed the need to promote deep economic integration and maintain the role as a growth engine in the Asia -Pacific region, including the early ratification and effective implementation of ACFTA 3.0, creating a foundation to promote high-quality economic, trade and investment links and connect regional industrial and supply chains.

The conference highly appreciated the results of the implementation of the Action Plan 2021-2025, and requested the early implementation of the Action Plan 2026-2030; agreed to further promote new growth drivers such as digital transformation, innovation, science, technology, energy conversion, green economy, support for the startup ecosystem, and strengthen connectivity of infrastructure, institutions, businesses, and people-to-people exchanges.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

The conference reaffirmed the role and value of multilateralism in maintaining and strengthening the environment of peace, security and stability. Emphasizing that ASEAN and China share common interests and responsibilities in building a peaceful and stable East Sea, creating favorable conditions for development cooperation, the Leaders pledged to continue promoting dialogue, building trust, peacefully resolving differences and disputes on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), fully and effectively implementing the DOC Declaration and making efforts to soon complete an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

In his speech, Chinese Premier Li Qiang stressed that the two sides need to continue to strengthen common strategic trust, promote strategic cooperation areas of common interests, including the proposal to establish an ASEAN-China Digital Academy, and connect people to enhance friendly understanding.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the Conference. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Speaking at the Conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated China on the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism, a historical milestone that reminds us of the devastating consequences of war and the eternal value of a sustainable peace.

In the spirit of solidarity is strength, cooperation brings common benefits, dialogue and sharing to better understand each other, the Prime Minister proposed three strategic orientations to strongly promote ASEAN-China relations in the coming time.

Firstly, the Prime Minister proposed to strengthen smart, inclusive and sustainable connectivity, including effectively implementing ACFTA 3.0, developing the ASEAN-China connectivity infrastructure system in a modern, green and sustainable direction, focusing on high-speed railway networks, green seaports, energy-saving airports, expanding the smart border gate system, digitizing logistics processes and immigration management to promote trade and people-to-people exchanges; strengthening connectivity of smart cities, sharing digital governance technology, AI governance and renewable energy solutions in urban development planning.

Signing ceremony of the Protocol to Upgrade the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA 3.0). (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Second, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of enhancing innovation and creating new momentum for growth breakthroughs; supporting the two sides to build the ASEAN-China Action Plan for Closer Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Future (2026-2030); proposed establishing an innovation network, research institutes and joint laboratories; organizing annual forums on green technology and digital transformation; enhancing training of high-quality technology human resources; enhancing people-to-people and youth exchanges and cultural tourism.

Third, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that strengthening strategic trust and maintaining regional peace and stability are prerequisites for sustainable and inclusive development; ASEAN and China need to build the East Sea into a sea of ​​peace, stability, cooperation and development, fully and effectively implement the DOC; soon achieve an effective and substantive COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and harmonize the legitimate interests of the parties.

THANH GIANG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/asean-va-trung-quoc-can-duy-tri-vai-tro-la-dong-luc-tang-truong-o-chau-a-thai-binh-duong-post918612.html