China will continue to strengthen its efforts in offering COVID-19 vaccines to the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), until the ultimate win of the pandemic, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday.

Wang made the remarks when meeting with ASEAN countries' diplomats based in Beijing.

According to official data, trade between China and the ASEAN has exceeded $410 billion in the first half of this year, up 38.2 percent year-on-year. China is willing to work with ASEAN countries in pushing for the economic revive and promote regional integration and economic globalization, Wang said.

Next year is the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

Wang said the two sides should advance consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea on the basis of the comprehensive and effective implementation of the DOC and jointly safeguard the peace and stability in the region to better seek win-win cooperation.

The envoys of ASEAN countries spoke highly of the fruitful results in the development of bilateral ties and thanked China for helping the region in fighting the pandemic and aiding economic recovery.

They added they will deepen cooperation with China in fields including trade, green economy, climate change, people-to-people exchanges and sustainable development.

(Cover: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a meeting with ASEAN diplomats in Beijing, China, November 14, 2021. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)