Working Together to Elevate China-ASEAN Relations to Higher Level
携手推动中国—东盟关系提质升级
Chinese Ambassador Deng Xijun to ASEAN
驻东盟大使邓锡军大使
8 September 2020
2020年9月8日
The 2020 series of Foreign Ministers’ Meetings on East Asia Cooperation will start tomorrow. This is the first time in history for the Meetings to be held via video link, due to the still raging COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with a pandemic rarely seen in a century and the complex changes in the regional landscape, people in our region might be keen to know more than ever how China-ASEAN relations are going and what signals will be sent on anti-pandemic cooperation in the upcoming meetings.
2020年东亚合作系列外长会即将举行，这是历史上首次以视频形式举行的系列外长会。特殊的形式反映出新冠疫情仍在蔓延的现实，面对世纪灾疫和复杂变化的地区局势，当前中国—东盟关系如何？此次外长会将就合作应对疫情挑战发出什么积极信号？这些都是地区人士尤为关注的。
China and ASEAN are among the main drivers of East Asia cooperation, which has been fully evidenced by our joint fight against the pandemic in recent months. President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang conducted frequent “cloud diplomacy” with leaders of ASEAN countries to provide confidence, support and political guidance when they are most needed. The Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit on COVID-19 and the China-ASEAN Special Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on COVID-19 were held at critical junctures, boosting confidence and directing the right way forward for regional anti-pandemic cooperation. To work concertedly against the pandemic and stabilize economic and social order, China and ASEAN have carried out regular exchanges at multi-levels in health, economy, trade, transportation, information, disaster management, among others. All these efforts point to the building of a comprehensive anti-pandemic cooperation front.
中国和东盟是推动和引领东亚合作的主要力量，这在双方携手应对疫情中得到充分彰显。习近平主席和李克强总理与东盟国家领导人开展频密的“云外交”，及时传递信心和支持，提供有力政治引领。东盟与中日韩抗击新冠肺炎疫情领导人特别会议、中国—东盟关于新冠肺炎问题特别外长会在关键时间节点举行，为地区抗疫合作提振了信心，指明了方向。中国和东盟卫生、经贸、交通、信息、灾害管理等相关领域就合作抗疫、稳定经济社会秩序开展多层级、常态化沟通交流，构建全方位抗疫合作体系。
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Chinese central and local governments, the military, the business community and private entities donated a large number of anti-epidemic materials including masks, protective clothing and testing kits to ASEAN countries. China sent medical expert teams to five ASEAN countries, namely Cambodia, the Philippines, Myanmar, the Lao PDR and Malaysia, and helped the Philippines and Myanmar build urgently needed virus-testing labs.
中国政府、军方、企业和民间机构向东盟国家提供了大量口罩、防护服和检测试剂等抗疫物资。中国先后向柬埔寨、菲律宾、缅甸、老挝、马来西亚等5个东盟国家派遣医疗队，帮助菲律宾、缅甸紧急援建病毒检测实验室。
China keeps in mind the needs of ASEAN countries for vaccine R&D and application and supports cooperation in these areas between Chinese enterprises and relevant ASEAN countries. In the meantime, it is of paramount importance to take care of social and economic recovery both during the pandemic and in the post-pandemic era. Toward this end, China and ASEAN countries including Singapore, the Lao PDR, Myanmar and Indonesia have established “fast lanes” and “green lanes” for personnel and goods movement respectively. China has resumed direct international flights with Vietnam and some other ASEAN countries. China has been actively exploring with ASEAN countries the establishment of fast and green lanes networks between China and ASEAN and in East Asia at large. Together we are also working on a regional financial safety net that stabilizes regional supply and industrial chains as well as the financial sector.
中国在疫苗研发、使用过程中，积极考虑东盟国家的需求，支持企业同东盟有关国家广泛开展疫苗研发与使用合作。着眼疫中疫后社会经济复苏，中国和新加坡、老挝、缅甸、印尼等东盟国家建立了人员“快速通道”和货物“绿色通道”，恢复与越南等东盟国家的直飞国际航班，并积极探讨建立中国－东盟和东亚区域“快捷通道”和“绿色通道”网络，推动区域金融安全网建设，维护地区供应链、产业链和金融稳定。
These anti-pandemic endeavors lead us to see the larger picture of China-ASEAN cooperation that is comprehensive, multi-tiered and covers a wide range of areas.
中国—东盟携手抗疫的实践充分反映出当前双方关系全方位、多层次、宽领域的合作图景：
China and ASEAN enjoy solid political mutual trust. Regional development today is being challenged not only by COVID-19 but also by the upsurging currents of unilateralism, protectionism and hegemony. In response to the rising uncertainty and instability across the region, China firmly stands on the right side of history to call for common development for all. China champions and acts upon the vision of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance. China stands together with ASEAN to uphold multilateralism and build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, injecting sustained positive energy in the evolving regional architecture.
中国—东盟政治互信稳固。当前，地区发展不仅遭遇新冠疫情的严峻挑战，也面临单边主义、保护主义、霸权逆流的冲击。面对地区不确定和不稳定因素上升，中国坚定站在各国共同发展进步的历史正确一面，倡导和践行共商共建共享国际治理观，和东盟国家共同捍卫多边主义，携手构建中国—东盟命运共同体，为地区格局演进持续注入正能量。
Regarding the South China Sea issue, a few external forces are determined to interfere for the sake of their domestic political and geopolitical agenda. They attempt to stir up troubles in our region by driving a wedge between China and ASEAN. This goes against the will of the people in our region and will in no way gain any support. China and ASEAN share the conviction that peace and stability in the South China Sea is in our biggest, shared interest. We hold the handling of the South China Sea issue firmly in our own hands, uphold the “dual track approach” and actively engage each other in dialogue and cooperation.
在南海问题上，虽然个别域外势力从本国国内政治和地缘战略出发执意介入南海争议，挑拨地区国家间关系，企图搅乱地区局势，但这种做法注定不得人心。中国和东盟国家始终将维护南海和平稳定视为最大共同利益，牢牢把握南海事务主导权，坚持处理南海问题的“双轨思路”，积极开展涉海对话合作。
Despite the inconvenience caused by COVID-19, China and ASEAN countries have managed to hold a joint working group meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) via virtual link a few days ago. Our joint effort to promote the implementation of DOC and the consultation of Code of Conduct (COC) speaks volume of our resolve to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
中国和东盟国家克服疫情不利影响，举行落实《南海各方行为宣言》联合工作组线上会议，继续推进落实《宣言》进程和“准则”磋商工作，表明了共同维护南海和平稳定的坚定决心。
China-ASEAN economic cooperation has enjoyed remarkable growth against strong headwind. Despite COVID-19 and the sluggish global economy, China-ASEAN foreign trade in the first eight months of 2020 reached to 2.93 trillion yuan with a year-on-year increase of 7 percent, making ASEAN China’s largest trading partner in goods, and China and ASEAN each other’s largest trading partner, indeed a milestone in history. In the first half of this year, China-ASEAN two-way investment soared by 58.8 percent. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2020, and the China-ASEAN FTA Upgrading Protocol is in sound implementation after coming into full effect last year.
中国—东盟经贸合作逆势增长。尽管疫情蔓延和全球经济衰退叠加，1-8月，中国与东盟货物贸易进出口总额2.93万亿元人民币，同比增长7%，东盟继续成为中国第一大货物贸易伙伴，从而实现双方互为最大贸易伙伴的历史性突破。上半年，中国和东南亚国家双边投资额同比增长58.8%。
The just-concluded Economic Ministers’ meetings between ASEAN and partner countries yielded rich fruits as well, including reaffirmed commitment to signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by year-end, improving regional economic structure and upholding the multilateral trading system of our region.
中国—东盟自贸区迎来建成10周年，《中国—东盟自贸区升级议定书》全面生效。近期举行的东亚合作系列经贸部长会议发表联合声明，强调各方共同致力于今年年底前如期签署“区域全面经济伙伴关系协定”，强化区域经济结构，维护地区多边贸易体系。
China-ASEAN high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to generate good progress. Greater synergy between the BRI and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025) is being created. Steady progress has been achieved in flagship projects despite the impact of COVID-19, including the Jakarta-Bandung high speed railway, China-Laos railway and Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway, adding more solid underpinning of economic recovery in regional countries.
中国和东盟高质量共建“一带一路”捷报频传。双方继续推进“一带一路”与《东盟互联互通总体规划2025》（MPAC 2025）深入对接，克服疫情不利条件，确保印尼雅万高铁、中老铁路、金边-西哈努克港高速公路等旗舰项目不断取得新进展，为地区国家经济复苏提供了坚实保障。
China-ASEAN cooperation in digital economy is unleashing great potential. Our two sides are making the most of the 2020 China-ASEAN Year of Digital Economy Cooperation. Institution building is improving, and communication mechanisms are expanding. Experience-sharing is growing in areas of pandemic control, infrastructure construction, industrial transformation and poverty reduction through digital means. Cooperation is strengthening in e-commerce, smart cities, 5G networks. These encouraging interactions significantly energize the shaping of a China-ASEAN digital economic partnership.
中国和东盟数字经济合作方兴未艾。双方以2020年“中国—东盟数字经济合作年”为契机，持续完善沟通机制，丰富交流平台，积极分享数字抗疫、数字基础设施建设、数字化转型、数字减贫等经验，拓展电子商务、智慧城市、5G网络等领域合作，为打造中国—东盟数字经济伙伴关系注入强劲动力。
Flourishing China-ASEAN people-to-people and cultural exchanges lead to deeper mutual understanding. China and ASEAN countries boast unique, diverse, yet inclusive cultures and a time-honored history of friendship among the people. The closeness and dynamism are unrivaled in Asia.
中国—东盟人文交流热度不减，推动双方民心相知相亲。中国和东盟国家历史文化多元包容、各具特色，民间交往源远流长、历久弥新，双方紧密活跃的人文交流合作在亚洲地区独树一帜。
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the peoples of China and ASEAN countries have supported each other through financial and material donations or expression of sympathy and blessings in videos. Our hearts are brought closer. The China-ASEAN Young Leaders Scholarship is in sound implementation. People from media outlets, think tanks and other walks of life have also maintained dialogue, learnt from each other and deepened friendship through digital means.
面对疫情，双方民众通过捐款、捐物、祈福和录制祝福视频等方式互为彼此加油鼓劲，进一步促进了民心相通。中国—东盟菁英奖学金项目稳步实施。双方媒体智库青年等不同界别举行视频交流对话，促进互学互鉴、相知相交，不断深化友好情谊。
As people often say, the rainbow appears after the storm. China-ASEAN relationship is cleaving the waves in the stormy COVID-19 pandemic and will usher in its 30th year in four months. It is our fervent hope that the rainbow appears sooner rather than later. By then the testing time will be seen to have made the foundation of China-ASEAN relations stronger, driving forces greater and prospects brighter. It is critical for China and ASEAN countries to stay clear of noises and disruptions in the upcoming Foreign Ministers’ meetings, stay focused on building more consensus in combating the pandemic and boosting post-pandemic economic recovery, and stay determined and confident to elevate China-ASEAN relationship to a higher level.
风雨过后见彩虹，即将迎来而立之年的中国—东盟关系在经历携手抗疫的洗礼后，基础必将更加牢固，动力必将更加充沛，前景必将更加广阔。期待中国和东盟在本次系列外长会上排除干扰和杂音，为抗击疫情和疫后经济复苏凝聚更多共识，奏响中国—东盟关系提质升级的华彩乐章。