Reference News Network, July 11 report: According to a report by Malaysia's National News Agency on July 10, on July 10, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister of China, pointed out that China views ASEAN as a priority direction for its neighborhood diplomacy and a pilot zone for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Wang Yi introduced the fruitful results of cooperation between China and ASEAN during the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. He said that President Xi Jinping of China successfully visited Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia in April this year, elevating the construction of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future to a higher level.

He said that the negotiations for the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) 3.0 have been fully completed, and the protocol will be signed this year. The ASEAN-China-GCC Summit has pioneered a new model of cross-regional cooperation.

He said that China will promote the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, accelerating Asia's revitalization amid the historical trend of the Global South's growing strength.

The Hong Kong "Sing Pao" website reported on July 10 that the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was co-hosted by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the representative of the ASEAN country coordinating China-ASEAN relations. Foreign ministers of ASEAN countries, ASEAN observers, and the ASEAN Secretary-General attended the meeting.

Wang Yi said that China and ASEAN share similar development concepts, common aspirations, and mutual interests, and regard ASEAN as a priority direction for neighborhood diplomacy and a pilot zone for building a community with a shared future for mankind. We should support and achieve each other in promoting Asia's modernization. China is always the most trustworthy stabilizing force in an unstable world and the most reliable partner for ASEAN countries to cope with challenges.

He introduced the achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation and proposed four suggestions. He said that we should be a model in upholding international fairness and justice. China supports ASEAN's central role in regional architecture and supports ASEAN's greater role in regional and international affairs. China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to practice open regionalism and genuine multilateralism, and make greater contributions to regional and global governance.

He also said that we should be a model in maintaining regional peace and stability. In today's world, chaos is frequent, and the peace and stability of our region are precious and must be firmly safeguarded. It is absolutely unacceptable to bring geopolitical conflicts and group confrontation into the Asian home.

He pointed out that we should be a model in conducting mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation. China is willing to work with ASEAN to build the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 well, implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) at a high quality, and create a high-level free trade network. China commends ASEAN's firm commitment to safeguarding free trade and the multilateral trading system, and believes that it is necessary to adhere to equal dialogue and mutual benefit to resolve trade disputes, protect their dignity and principles, and not sacrifice the interests of third parties.

He also said that we should be a model in promoting inclusiveness and mutual learning. China is willing to continue advocating dialogue, exchange, and mutual learning among different civilizations with ASEAN countries, and jointly build an Asian family that is harmonious yet diverse and inclusive.

Nations attending the meeting expressed their welcome for the practical cooperation initiatives proposed by China, and wished to align their development strategies with China as soon as possible. They look forward to the signing of the protocol for the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 this year and to further advancing regional economic integration. They wish to work with China to maintain multilateralism and the multilateral trading system, and jointly address global challenges.

In addition, Bloomberg News reported that Chinese Foreign Minister called on Southeast Asian countries to uphold openness and cooperation, sending signals of inclusiveness at a time when U.S. President Trump threatened to impose blanket tariffs on countries in the region.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated at the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur that China and ASEAN will "promote the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness," and "accelerate Asia's revitalization amid the historical trend of the Global South's growing strength."

The above remarks were made against the backdrop of Trump's threat to impose tariffs on important U.S. trade partners. Starting August 1, Malaysian goods exported to the U.S. will face a 25% tariff, while Laos and Myanmar will see their tariffs increase to 40%, Cambodia and Thailand to 36%, and Indonesia to 32%.

According to a report by Kyodo News on July 10, in the context of the U.S. threatening to impose high tariffs on ASEAN member states, the foreign ministers of ASEAN and China reached an agreement on promoting economic cooperation through upgrading the free trade agreement.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Muhammad Hasan said that by upgrading the agreement, ASEAN and China "will be able to strengthen our economic cooperation and resilience during this challenging period and in the future."

He pointed out that China and ASEAN have been each other's largest trading partners for many consecutive years.

He also emphasized the need to remain vigilant about threats to an open, fair, and rules-based trade system. This clearly refers to the U.S. tariffs. (Translated by Qiu Fang, Hu Guanghe)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7525659030191194676/

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