The 28th China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit convened on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with leaders gathering to review the progress of China-ASEAN cooperation and map out its future direction.
Attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, the summit also brought together leaders and representatives from across the ASEAN region.
Addressing the summit, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of ASEAN 2025, stated that ASEAN countries are unanimous in their appreciation of China's committed and consistent engagement across the region.
In his opening remarks, Li emphasized that cooperation has been crucial to ASEAN's rapid economic development. He noted that it has not only helped the region weather global storms such as the Asian and global financial crises but has also served as a powerful engine, driving a tremendous expansion in trade and investment.
Li also lauded the strengthening of people-to-people ties between China and ASEAN, particularly over the past year, a trend fueled by reciprocal visa-free policies introduced between China and several ASEAN countries. This is notably evidenced by the 27-percent year-on-year surge in Chinese tourist arrivals to Malaysia, he said.
The Chinese premier also warned against "grave threats" to the region, pointing to unilateralism, protectionism, and unfairly high tariffs. He emphasized the imperative for ASEAN countries to resist manipulation by outside forces and to work to strengthen cooperation in order to jointly face these challenges.
The summit was part of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which are being held in Malaysia from Sunday to Tuesday under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability."
28th China-ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur
28th China-ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur
