Chinese and ASEAN scholars share insights on ASEAN-China relations

The High-Level Think Tank Seminar on ASEAN-China Relations, themed "Navigating the Future of ASEAN-China Relations: Challenges and Opportunities", was successfully held in Beijing on Feb 21, 2025. The event was co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing.

ACC secretary general Shi Zhongjun, Malaysian ambassador to China Dato' Norman Muhamad, and director-general Liu Jinsong of the Department of Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.

Shi Zhongjun emphasized that the world has entered another round of turbulence, transformation and unpredictable circumstances. As key drivers of regional and global economic growth, China and ASEAN need to make concerted efforts to align with contemporary trends and make strategic and forward-thinking decisions. He highlighted that the seminar provided a valuable platform for scholarly exchanges, sharing of practical insights, and the advancement of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to regional and global stability.

Ambassador Dato' Norman Muhamad stated that ASEAN-China relations have grown from strength to strength. Amid an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic landscape, both sides are dedicated to strengthening strategic planning and joint efforts to ensure their strategic partnership remains dynamic, resilient and forward-looking.

Liu Jinsong said that China firmly supports a united, prosperous and strong ASEAN and its centrality in regional cooperation. As important forces in the Global South, China and ASEAN must engage in closer unity and cooperation to create a favorable strategic environment for common development and long-term peace and prosperity in the region and to anchor the development of a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

Participants highly commended the significant achievements of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations and engaged in in-depth discussions on both internal and external opportunities and challenges in an era of uncertainty. They put forward valuable suggestions for the future development of bilateral relations, including strengthening constructive engagement, building mutual trust and confidence, promoting multilateralism and a robust regional order, enhancing connectivity, liberalizing trade and investment, and fostering new areas of cooperation such as sustainable growth, the green economy, blue industries and artificial intelligence. Additionally, they emphasized the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties to deepen mutual understanding and collaboration.

The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community, with Malaysia assuming the ASEAN chairmanship while also serving as the country coordinator for ASEAN-China relations. It also marks the second year of ASEAN-China People-to-People Exchanges. The seminar aimed to gather valuable insights from academic and diplomatic representatives to address future challenges and opportunities, contribute to the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges (ACYPPE), and further promote inclusive and sustainable development in ASEAN-China relations.

Nearly 20 high-level scholars and heads of think tanks from eight ASEAN Member States and China participated in the seminar, including former foreign minister of Indonesia Hassan Wirajuda, director general of the Foreign Service Institute of the Philippines Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III, former president of the China Institute of International Studies Xu Bu, former ambassador and executive board member of the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies U Htin Lynn, senior advisor of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam Nguyen Vu Tung, and president of the BRI Caucus for Asia Pacific Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat, among others. Ambassador of the Philippines to China Jamie A. Florcruz and diplomats from all Embassies of AMS in China, as well as representatives from the Department of Asian Affairs, attended the event.