China supports ASEAN centrality in regional architecture

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at an event in Beijing. (Photo: THX/TTXVN)

Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that the friendship and cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have become stronger and more resilient after "the storms of the times."

The above comment was made by Mr. Xi Jinping in an article published on the front page of “The Star,” a major Malaysian newspaper, on May 15, ahead of his visit to Malaysia.

According to a VNA reporter in Kuala Lumpur, in the above article, Mr. Xi Jinping emphasized that China is the first dialogue partner of ASEAN to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the first country to establish a free trade area and comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN.

China-ASEAN cooperation is the most result-oriented and effective cooperation in the region, he said, adding that China firmly supports ASEAN unity and community building, and supports ASEAN's central role in the regional architecture.

“We must bravely ride out the storm and together build a stronger China-ASEAN community with a shared future,” President Xi Jinping stressed.

He added that China fully supports Malaysia in its role as ASEAN Chair in 2025 and looks forward to Malaysia playing a stronger role as a bridge between the two sides as the National Coordinator for China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations.

According to a press release on April 14 by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese President will pay a state visit to Malaysia from April 15-17 at the invitation of Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim.

The statement stressed that as the ASEAN Chair 2025 and National Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, Malaysia remains committed to promoting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and China through dialogue, mutual trust and initiatives that bring tangible benefits to the people of ASEAN and China./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/trung-quoc-ung-ho-vai-tro-trung-tam-cua-asean-trong-kien-truc-khu-vuc-post1031951.vnp