Xi Jinping Says China Will Be a Good Friend for ASEAN

TheIndonesia.id - China’s president Xi Jinping said China will be a good friend, neighbor, and partner for ASEAN countries during a special summit between the country and the regional bloc.

“China was, is, and will be a good neighbor, friend, and partner for ASEAN,” Xi told the 10 state leaders that were present on Monday, November 22, 2021.

During event that also commemorated the 30 years of dialogue relations between the bloc and the economic giant, Xi said China wouldn’t seek hegemony nor use its superior size to take advantage of the smaller countries.

According to him, the summit gave an important opportunity for participating countries to reaffirm their commitment to regional peace, stability, and security.

This meeting, which wasn’t attended by Myanmar’s representative, had a potential to become monumental one amid the rising tension over China’s territorial claim on the South China Sea, or locally known as North Natuna Sea in Indonesia.

The claim had been rebuked by some ASEAN countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines.

President Rodrigo Duterte even said that he ‘hated’ the recently heating-up situation in the South China Sea.

Speaking on the forum, he referred last week’s incident when the Chinese coast guard vessels used water cannons on two Filipino boats.

“This does not speak well of the relations between our nations and our partnership,” he said.

Meanwhile, the official joint statement emphasized that China and the Southeast Asian countries remain committed “to the freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability”.

In economy, the Chinese government plans to further its economic ties with the region. According to statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country “is ready to import more quality products from ASEAN countries, including buying up to 150 billion U.S. dollars' worth of agricultural products from ASEAN” within the next five years.

The summit also resulted in a commitment between China and the bloc in exploring potential collaboration on low-carbon, circular, and green economy through the utilization of the most advanced science and technology.