Xi's trip to help build foundation for China-ASEAN community of common destiny

BUILDING CHINA-ASEAN COMMUNITY OF COMMON DESTINY

The China-ASEAN Think Tank Nanning Consensus, a document created by scholars from across Asia in September this year, states that China-ASEAN cooperation plays a vital role in implementing the "Belt and Road" initiative.

Deepening China-ASEAN cooperation within the framework of the "Belt and Road" initiative is of great significance to upgrading the China-ASEAN FTA and building a closer China-ASEAN community of common destiny.

China is now ASEAN's largest trading partner, while ASEAN is China's third largest trading partner. Trade between the two increased 8.3 percent year on year to 480 billion US dollars in 2014.

China aims to elevate bilateral trade with ASEAN members to 1 trillion US dollars by 2020.

By the end of the year, the ASEAN Economic Community will be in place and the regional grouping, with a combined population of 600 million, will create huge business opportunities for many countries, including China.

"Vietnam stands ready to become a bridge in boosting trade and investment between ASEAN members and China," said Ambassador Khoi.

China-ASEAN relations are facing new opportunities as next year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN dialogue and Singapore takes its turn as the coordinator country for China-ASEAN relations, said Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli during his visit to Singapore in October.

As China cooperates on production capacity with ASEAN countries, Singapore, an international financial and commercial center with unique advantages in geography, finance and services, can participate in the form of trilateral or multilateral cooperation to promote the common development of the region.

Analysts believe that Xi's upcoming visit to Vietnam and Singapore will promote healthy and stable development of China-ASEAN strategic partnership so as to make greater contribution to regional development and prosperity.