Vice President Han Zheng unveiled a four-point plan to strengthen China’s cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Wednesday, according to media reports.
Speaking at the opening of the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning, Guangxi province, Han’s proposals targeted development strategy alignment, regional trade expansion, supply chain cooperation and deeper cultural exchanges.
Han called for advancing the Belt and Road Initiative alongside China’s three other global initiatives – the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative. He also urged participants to accelerate upgrades to the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement.
The vice president held separate meetings Tuesday with leaders from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam attending the expo. With Myanmar Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, Han emphasised cross-border crackdowns on crime and the need to protect Chinese personnel and projects in the Southeast Asian country. Myanmar expressed willingness to deepen Belt and Road cooperation.
[See more: Timor-Leste is to become a full ASEAN member in October]
Han and Vice President Bounthong Chitmany of Laos, meanwhile, agreed that relations between their respective countries were at their strongest levels ever. With Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth, Han discussed accelerating the “Industrial Development Corridor” and “Fish and Rice Corridor” projects following President Xi Jinping’s April state visit.
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh joined discussions marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Both sides expressed their commitment to deepening cooperation across multiple sectors.
CAEXPO is an annual four-day event focussed on improving trade, investments and cooperation between China and 10 countries belonging to the ASEAN bloc, China’s largest trade partner. The China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit took place as part of CAEXPO yesterday.
