"The cooperation has become the most vibrant and productive cooperation," he added, according to a letter read by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Nong Rong at the "Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations: Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of China’s Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia" here on Thursday.
China officially established the cooperation on October 8, 2003, he noted. The country was among the first major countries to join the TAC and establish a strategic partnership with ASEAN.
"This is not only a milestone in China-ASEAN relations, but also an event of great significance for the whole region," he said.
Over the past 20 years, and especially in the past decade since Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the idea of building a closer China-ASEAN community, China and ASEAN have jointly succeeded in building progress in the region.
The cooperation has become the most vibrant and productive in the Asia-Pacific, and effectively promoted peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, said the state councilor.
The cooperation between China and ASEAN has been one of the most successful regional partnerships in the world, he said.
China, he said, will continue to work with ASEAN to uphold the purpose and principles of multilateralism and safeguard regional rules in order to preserve peace and development in the region.
He called for greater efforts to promote the purpose and principles of the TAC and safeguard the rules-based order in the region.
China sincerely hopes to pursue common development with its neighbors in ASEAN based on the principles of amity, sincerity, and inclusivity, Rong added.
China was the first country to reach a free trade agreement with ASEAN, with the two-way direct investment reaching US$340 billion so far, delivering tangible benefits for people on both sides.
China, he said, fully supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture and is ready to work on this cooperation.
"And follow the purpose and principle of the TAC, uphold regional rules and order to achieve a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful, and amicable home for the closer China-ASEAN community, and jointly promote modernization," he added.
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Reporter: Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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