Next week, China will mark the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Cambodia will host the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) via video conference after two postponements.
China, ASEAN mark 30-year dialogue relations
Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair a summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the dialogue relations between China and the 10-member ASEAN via video link on Monday.
"ASEAN is China's close neighbor and important cooperation partner," said Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
China and ASEAN have become each other's biggest trading partner, most dynamic cooperation partner and most substantial strategic partner since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1991, Zhao has told a regular news briefing.
In the first three quarters of 2021, China-ASEAN trade totaled $630.54 billion, up by 31.1 percent year on year, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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30th anniversary: China-ASEAN economic achievements
13th ASEM kicks off virtually
Cambodia will host the 13th ASEM, which is themed Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth, via video conference on Thursday and Friday, following two prior postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the host, Cambodia's priority is to enhance multilateralism in order to achieve a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient post-pandemic socio-economic recovery, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has said.
Founded in 1996, ASEM is comprised of 53 partners, including 21 Asian countries, 30 European countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the European Union.
Collectively, ASEM partners represent 65 percent of the global economy, 60 percent of the world's population, 55 percent of the world trade and 75 percent of the world tourism.
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Premier Li: China supports Cambodia to host Asia-Europe Meeting
Day by day:
Monday: Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs a summit via video link to mark the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations between China and the ASEAN; 8th China-Germany Belt and Road Economic Cooperation Dialogue opens (to Wednesday); Foreign ministers of Central Asian countries and the European Union meet in Dushanbe; World Trade Organization holds General Council meeting.
Tuesday: President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas pays an official visit to Russia.
Wednesday: Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz visits Morocco to sign an agreement with his counterpart on enhancing security cooperation (to Thursday).
Thursday: Cambodia hosts the 13th ASEM via video conference (to Friday).
Friday: India marks the 13th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks which lasted nearly three days and left 174 people dead, including nine gunmen.
Saturday: A quiet day in politics.
Sunday: Honduras holds presidential, congressional, and municipal elections.