Wang Yi Attends the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting

On August 4, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh.

Wang Yi said that 25 years ago, with an eye to East Asia's development in the 21st century, and following the spirit of open regionalism and the trend of globalization, countries in the region launched the APT cooperation. Over the past 25 years, the APT cooperation has continuously deepened, yielding a great number of significant outcomes. We have set the goal of the East Asian Community and improved the cooperation framework. We have established the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest free trade area, and promoted the integration of East Asia's industrial and supply chain systems and interests. We have enhanced crisis response capabilities, made landmark achievements such as the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization, and laid the foundation for the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture.

Wang Yi said the international landscape today is evolving at an accelerated pace, and science and technology and the industrial revolution are advancing rapidly, presenting unprecedented challenges and opportunities. As the APT cooperation is in a critical period of building on the past achievements to usher in a better future, China is ready to work with regional countries to uphold solidarity and coordination, stick to the role of the APT as the main channel of East Asia cooperation, firm up the resolve to stay true to the original aspiration and purpose of jointly promoting peace, stability and progress in the region, and maintain the momentum of development in East Asia cooperation to achieve new leaps forward to better serve the fundamental interests and long-term well-being of the people of the 13 countries. Wang Yi put forward four proposals.

First, draw up a long-term blueprint for East Asia's development. China supports adopting a new five-year work plan for APT cooperation to provide comprehensive guidance and inject new impetus into future cooperation. It is important to explore mutual reinforcement and common development of the APT cooperation, the cooperation among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and the three ASEAN Plus One mechanisms.

Second, advance regional economic integration. China is ready to set up a special donation fund for RCEP economic and technological cooperation within the framework of the China-ASEAN Cooperation Fund to help ASEAN countries enhance their capacity to implement the RCEP. It is important to promote the integrated development of industrial and supply chains in the region, support the establishment of APT migration and consular consultation mechanisms, and increase the frequency of direct flights between China and other APT countries in an orderly manner.

Third, enhance crisis response capabilities. China supports the building of the APT Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies and the establishment of a Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management mechanism, and will provide a list of medical supplies as soon as possible. China will increase financial support for the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve to enhance the food supply capacity in the region and better safeguard food security.

Fourth, lead regional transformation and development. It is important to expand exchanges and cooperation in digital infrastructure, e-commerce, digital logistics, smart cities and other fields. We need to boost digital transformation and green development in the region, and push for the establishment of an APT low-carbon cooperative partnership. Efforts should be made to strengthen cooperation in poverty reduction to narrow the development gap in the region.

All parties fully affirmed the important role of the APT cooperation in helping regional countries successfully respond to the pandemic and achieve economic recovery. All parties agreed to accelerate regional economic integration, fully implement the RCEP, help countries enhance economic resilience, ensure smooth operation of industrial and supply chains, and jointly address the challenges to food and energy security. All parties will deepen cooperation in public health, digital economy, green development and other fields to achieve low-carbon and sustainable development and make the APT cooperation better benefit the people of all countries.