Ningbo, 13 February (AseanAll) — ASEAN and China reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) at the 31st ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Consultation, held on February 13, 2025 in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province,China.
China reiterated its support for ASEAN Community-building efforts and ASEAN’s central role in regional affairs. China also reaffirmed the high priority it places on its relationship with ASEAN as part of its neighbourhood diplomacy.
Both sides reviewed the continued progress of ASEAN-China cooperation over the past year. Substantive progress has been achieved in the final year of the implementation of the ASEAN-China Plan of Action 2021-2025 and its Annex to advance the CSP. ASEAN and China continued to enhance cooperation under the CSP, with a focus placed on key areas such as trade and investment, green economy, connectivity, digital ecosystems, blue economy, clean energy, agriculture and food security, culture, and tourism.
The meeting also discussed deliverables of ASEAN-China cooperation for 2025 and preparations for the upcoming ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting in July. These deliverables include the signing of the ASEAN-China FTA 3.0 upgrade, the adoption of the new ASEAN-China Plan of Action for 2026-2030, and the establishment of the ASEAN-China Tourism Ministers meeting, among others.
China also put forward proposals for enhancing cooperation in maritime cooperation, artificial intelligence, transport, blue economy, women and children health, and environment.
Under the theme of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, various projects and activities are planned and will be implemented in ASEAN Member States and China to foster greater cultural and people-to-people connectivity.
The Senior Officials exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual concern, underscoring the importance of strengthened cooperation in addressing security challenges, including terrorism, human trafficking, illicit drug abuse, and cybercrime.
The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Amran Mohamed Zin, and Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Sun Weidong, and attended by Senior Officials from ASEAN Member States or their representatives and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
