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                                            ASEAN-China relations

Informal relations between ASEAN and China began in 1991 when Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen attended the 24^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur as a guest of the Malaysian government. Foreign Minister Qian also attended the 25^th meeting held in Manila in 1992 as guest of the chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee. He reiterated China’s desire for closer cooperation with ASEAN.

ASEAN-China relations were formalised in Bangkok on July 23, 1994, in an exchange of letters between the Secretary-General of ASEAN and Foreign Minister Qian, who was by now also Vice Premier. Two joint committees were established, one on scientific and technological cooperation and the other on economic and trade cooperation.

ASEAN accorded full dialogue status to China at the 29^th ministerial meeting in Jakarta in 1996. Under the joint dialogue, an ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee was established to coordinate all mechanisms at the working level. To further consolidate and enhance development and functional cooperation, China agreed to the establishment of the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund. The joint cooperation committee has met three times, with the most recent meeting held in Chengdu in March, 2001.

ASEAN and China have also established a forum on political and security issues. The ASEAN-China Senior Officials Political Consultation convened its seventh meeting in Hainan in June, 2001.

ASEAN member countries have an overriding interest in being strategically engaged with China, bilaterally and regionally. ASEAN values China’s support for its positions on international issues, particularly forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77. ASEAN also has an interest in engaging China both as a market and as a competitor. In an effort to prevent conflict and peace in the region, ASEAN and China are working closely towards establishing a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

Although it has not been long since ASEAN and China established their full dialogue partnership, remarkable progress has been made in areas such as:

Common interests 

As developing countries, ASEAN and China share extensive common interests.  The long-standing traditional friendship, similar historical experiences and cultural backgrounds, geographical proximity, similar development levels and common desire to safeguard peace and develop their economies constitute a bond between the two regions and an important foundation for ASEAN-China Cooperation.

Common objectives

ASEAN and China are committed to stability and prosperity in the region and the whole world.  On questions bearing on peace and development, both sides have much common language.  On the basis of equality and mutual respect, both persist in resolving differences and disputes through bilateral peaceful consultations overcoming outside interference.

Joint efforts

Both sides treasure and attach importance to ASEAN-China cooperation and have made unremitting efforts to strengthen and enrich friendly cooperation in all fields. 

Economic Cooperation

During the ASEAN-China Summit in Singapore, China announced a contribution of US$5 million to the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund.  Leaders agreed that ASEAN-China cooperation could focus on areas such as agriculture, information technology, transport links, education and human resources development.  China expressed support for e-ASEAN initiatives and readiness to work to implement an e-ASEAN Framework Agreement based on its strengths such as providing necessary human resources training.

In strengthening economic cooperation, China called for the establishment of an Expert Group under the ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee to study trade and economic cooperation between ASEAN and China.  The proposed study was to look into the implications of China’s accession to the WTO and the possibility of establishing free-trade relations between ASEAN and China.

The first meeting of the ASEAN-China Expert Group on Economic Cooperation was held in Beijing in April.  It agreed that the theme of the study would be “Forging Closer ASEAN-China Economic Relations in the 21^st Century”. After considering the outlines of studies drawn up by both sides, the group consolidated the elements into a single outline and also agreed that a joint research team should be formed comprising of ASEAN and Chinese researchers to carry out the work.

Recommendations of the study are expected to be presented to the ASEAN-China summit in Brunei Darussalam.