Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met his ASEAN counterparts in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality for a Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations.

China hopes to continue jointly constructing BRI with Brunei

Wang said China wants to continue jointly constructing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Brunei, hoping to deepen ties in sectors including energy, 5G network and the digital economy.

He made the remarks when meeting with visiting Brunei Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Erywan bin Pehin Yusof. 

Wang first spoke highly of Brunei's role – as rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year – in pushing forward the relationship between China and ASEAN, and deepening regional COVID-19 prevention efforts.

Describing Brunei as China's "good friend and partner," Wang vowed to maintain the "healthy-growing" momentum of the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership.

2021 marks the 30th anniversary of China and Brunei establishing diplomatic relations, and Wang hailed the positive growth in trade during the pandemic. China and Brunei saw their bilateral trade volume rise 72.5 percent last year, ranking top among China's ASEAN partners. That shows the great tenacity and complementary function of the two countries' practical cooperation, Wang said.

Erywan thanked China for its assistance in Brunei's fight against the coronavirus and expressed a willingness to strengthen dialogue with Beijing. The Bruneian diplomat also congratulated China as this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

As the rotating chair of the ASEAN this year, he added that the development in the relationship between ASEAN and China has made ASEAN countries "more attractive and competitive."

The two diplomats also touched on Myanmar issues. Wang said China would continue assisting ASEAN in eliminating all sorts of violence, and added that he hoped all involved can properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation under the constitutional and legal framework.

China appreciates Singapore's role in enhancing China-ASEAN ties

Wang expressed appreciation for Singapore's constructive role in deepening China-ASEAN relations during talks with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan, noting that China's relationship with ASEAN has yielded fruitful results over the past 30 years.

Highlighting the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, the foreign minister told Balakrishnan that China is willing to strengthen the exchange of experience on state governance with the Singapore government and the People's Action Party.

He also called for closer communication and coordination with Singapore to jointly address the test of the pandemic and once-in-a-century global changes as well as to promote bilateral ties to a new level.

Wang said the two countries should maintain the momentum of high-level contacts in a flexible manner and jointly explore effective measures to restore economic and social development when containing COVID-19 on a routine basis.

He said the China-Singapore land-sea trade corridor has become a new highlight in bilateral cooperation, better connecting the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road.

"We hope that both sides will sign and implement the cooperation plan as soon as possible, so as to provide greater assistance to the industrial chain along the route, the smooth flow of supply chain and the recovery after the epidemic," the foreign minister said.

Balakrishnan expressed his warm congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC and thanked China for providing strong support in the fight against the pandemic.

Noting China is ASEAN's largest trading partner, Balakrishnan said Singapore is willing to work with China to play an important role in the China-Singapore land-sea trade corridor, deepen the joint construction of the BRI, and jointly promote regional and world economic recovery.

Wang and Balakrishnan also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of common concern, including the situation in Myanmar.

Wang Yi: China's aid to Philippines attaches no political conditions

China has never attached any political conditions to aiding the Philippines, nor does it have any so-called "trap", Wang stressed when meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin.

Admitting that the development of China-Philippines relations is facing some difficulties and challenges, Wang told Locsin that the two countries should strengthen the determination to those remarks attacking and discrediting the mutually beneficial cooperation.

He urged two countries to strive for solid cooperation results bringing more common benefits to the two peoples and to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

"What we insist on is mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and what we pursue is common development."

Wang also appreciated the Philippines' active efforts and important contributions to promote the all-round development of China-ASEAN relations as the coordinator of China-ASEAN relations.

China is willing to continue to provide the Philippines with anti-epidemic materials and vaccine support according to the needs of the Philippine side to help it overcome the epidemic as soon as possible, he added.

Locsin praised China for achieving unprecedented achievements in poverty alleviation, saying the experience is worth learning from all countries.

The Philippines positively appraised China's key role in international cooperation on vaccines, Locsin said and voiced hope for continually strengthening cooperation with China in the fight against COVID-19.

He also said the Philippines supports the elevation of China-ASEAN ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and is ready to make active efforts to that end.

The Philippine foreign minister also opposed the politicization and weaponization of human rights issues. "All countries have the right to maintain the security and stability of their countries in an appropriate manner."

Admitting some difference between the two sides existing over the South China Sea issue, Locsin said the issue should not affect the rising bilateral friendship and practical cooperation in various fields.

"The Philippine side is willing to maintain communication with China in a more friendly and effective diplomatic manner."

Wang Yi: China-ASEAN ties should be upgraded

Wang on Monday also urged China and ASEAN to take the special meeting as an opportunity to elevate relations to a higher level.

Wang made the remarks when meeting with Secretary-General of the ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi.

The Chinese foreign minister said China will continue to unite with ASEAN countries to fight against epidemics, provide more vaccines to ASEAN countries according to their needs, and carry out cooperation in vaccine research and production, procurement, supervision and vaccination.

Noting China has completed the approval of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), Wang hopes that ASEAN countries will speed up the approval process and promote the early implementation of the agreement, so as to benefit all peoples at an early date.

Lim thanked China for its valuable support and assistance to ASEAN in fighting against the COVID-19.

In the 30 years since the establishment of dialogue relations between ASEAN and China, mutual political trust has been enhanced, practical cooperation has been deepened, and traditional friendship has been deepened, Lim noted.

Standing at a new historical point, ASEAN is willing to work together with China to firmly maintain regional peace and stability, make every effort to promote regional economic recovery, and continuously enhance the level of development of ASEAN-China relations, he added.