Indonesia, ASEAN State Delegations to Visit China This Week

TheIndonesia.id - Representatives of four ASEAN member states, including Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, are planned to visit China later this week to discuss the relations between the East Asian country and Southeast Asia region.

As announced by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Marsudi, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai, the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., and Myanmar’s Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin will be in China respectively from March 31 to April 3.

Spokesperson for China’s MFA Wang Wenbin said among the focuses of discussion of the meeting is the strategic partnership between China and ASEAN which has been going for three decades.

“Through this visit, China hopes to work with all parties to ensure the sound implementation of the outcomes and consensus of the ASEAN-China special summit to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations last year, promote the materialization of the Global Development Initiative in neighboring countries first, and jointly build a peaceful, tranquil, prosperous, beautiful, and friendly homeland,” Wenbin said on Monday, March 28.

China will also have in-depth exchanges of views with all parties on the current regional and international situation, including the situation in Ukraine.

Wenbin also reiterated the intention to continue cooperation with ASEAN countries in various sectors, especially to rebuild the economy after COVID-19 pandemic.

“Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Myanmar are important ASEAN members and China’s friendly neighbors and important partners for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Since COVID-19 broke out, China has maintained regular exchanges and communication with ASEAN countries in a flexible manner, continuously deepened cooperation on COVID-19 and economic recovery, stood together to overcome difficulties and seek common development,” he said.

“The upcoming visit of the four foreign ministers again demonstrates the close and friendly relations between China and its ASEAN neighbors and the high importance all sides attach to advancing China-ASEAN cooperation.”