China, ASEAN Forge Closer Ties Amid Regional Tensions

Foreign Minister Wang Yi Outlines Three-Pillar Cooperation Strategy with ASEAN Secretary-General

Chinese Foreign Minister **Wang Yi** met with ASEAN Secretary-General **Kao Kim Hourn** in Beijing, emphasizing deepened cooperation and regional stability. The talks come as both China and ASEAN navigate complex international dynamics.

Building a Shared Future

Wang Yi affirmed China’s commitment to ASEAN in its neighborhood diplomacy, advocating for a stronger regional bloc. He stated China’s intention to collaborate with ASEAN nations to foster a more integrated community with a shared future.

This strategic alignment is guided by the recent central conference on work related to neighboring countries held in April, signaling a proactive approach to regional engagement.

Pillars of Cooperation

Minister **Wang Yi** identified three crucial areas for enhanced China-ASEAN collaboration:

Upholding Free Trade and Multilateralism

The two sides committed to jointly defend free trade principles and the multilateral trading system. As significant players in the Global South, China and ASEAN will bolster solidarity to resist unilateralism and preserve the integrity of WTO rules, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Promoting Peace in the South China Sea

Emphasis was placed on the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The goal is to cultivate a renewed atmosphere of peace, friendship, and cooperation within the vital waterway.

Ensuring Regional Stability

“Recent clashes on the border between Cambodia and Thailand which caused casualties are deeply distressing,” stated **Wang Yi**. He assured that China, a mutual friend and neighbor, would remain impartial and continue its constructive role in de-escalating the situation.

Kao Kim Hourn expressed gratitude for China’s unwavering support for ASEAN’s central role in regional affairs and its community-building efforts. ASEAN anticipates leveraging the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership in 2026 to deepen strategic alignment and practical cooperation.

On the recent Cambodia-Thailand border tensions, **Kao Kim Hourn** acknowledged China’s active facilitation of peace talks. The ASEAN bloc aims to maintain stability, a sentiment echoed by China’s readiness to mediate. In 2023, ASEAN’s combined GDP reached approximately $3.6 trillion, underscoring its economic significance in regional stability (World Bank, 2024).