Xi Jinping announced a strategic partnership between China and ASEAN

China's relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are transitioning to the new level of the comprehensive strategic partnership. This was announced on Monday by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Today, we officially announce the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN," he said at the opening event in celebration of 30th anniversary of the dialogue between Beijing and this regional association.

According to the Chinese leader, another historical stage, which "will become a new driver for development" and help to maintain peace and stability in the region, begins.

At the same time, Xi Jinping clarified that contacts between China and the regional association are not of allied nature. "We need to strengthen genuine multilateralism," he added. "China is dead against hegemony and power politics."


Chinese leader stressed that his country "will always be a good friend and reliable partner of ASEAN." "China constantly intends to consider relations with the association as a priority issue for the development of diplomatic relations with adjacent states," he stressed.

ASEAN has been steadily consolidating its position as China's leading economic partner over the past two years. According to official statistics, in the period from January to October, the trade turnover between China and the association member countries amounted to $703.33 billion, demonstrating an increase of 30% year on year. This figure has significantly exceeded the volume of China's trade with the European Union ($670.37 billion) and the United States ($609.93 billion) over the same period.

Source: tass.ru
Image source: regnum.ru