Wang Yi Meets with ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi

On July 11, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi in Jakarta.

Wang Yi congratulated ASEAN on its 55th anniversary and appreciated the positive contributions made by Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi and the ASEAN Secretariat to promoting China-ASEAN relations. Wang Yi said, China is the largest neighboring country of ASEAN, and China and ASEAN are each other's largest trading partners. China has always prioritized ASEAN in its foreign policy, supported the development and growth of ASEAN, and supported ASEAN in accelerating its community building. China was among the first to establish a strategic partnership with ASEAN, which has been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership. China has taken the lead in joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, negotiating with ASEAN on the establishment of a free trade area, explicitly supporting ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation, and firmly supporting the existing regional structure led by ASEAN and proven to be effective. With the joint efforts of both sides, China-ASEAN cooperation has shown robust vitality, making the region the safest and most promising one. China is ready to work with ASEAN to build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together under the guidance of the important consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and ASEAN leaders, so as to better benefit the two peoples.

Wang Yi stressed, China and ASEAN firmly support sovereign equality and greater democracy in international relations, and take the lead in advancing multi-polarity in the world. In the face of drastic changes in the international situation and new challenges, we should be highly vigilant against and resist all acts that undermine ASEAN centrality, oppose any attempts to introduce major-power rivalry and bloc confrontation into the region, jointly advocate open regionalism, join hands to maintain the hard-won peace and stability in the region, and create a bright future of solidarity and prosperity together.

Dato Lim Jock Hoi thanked China for its timely provision of vaccines and other anti-pandemic materials to ASEAN, and appreciated China's consistent and firm support for ASEAN centrality and community building, as well as China's important contributions to accelerating regional economic recovery, achieving sustainable and inclusive growth, and promoting development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific. Dato Lim Jock Hoi said, ASEAN looks forward to working with China to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership and uphold open regionalism. ASEAN is ready to take the opportunity of the China-ASEAN Year of Sustainable Development to deepen cooperation in various fields such as connectivity, supply chain stability, digital economy, climate change response, ecological conservation, disaster prevention and mitigation, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.