Jakarta (ANTARA) - The ASEAN-China cooperation has strengthened economic integration in the region, stated Wang Yi, Director of the Office of China's Central Foreign Affairs Commission, on Thursday.

"This cooperation has brought real benefits to more than two billion people," Wang noted at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Post-Ministerial Conference with China in Jakarta.

He mentioned that 20 years ago, China signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), which aims for peace and prosperity.

China's accession to the TAC reflects its commitment to ASEAN's growth and development, as well as its efforts in building relations with neighboring countries, Wang remarked.

In the last two decades, China and ASEAN have actively expanded cooperation in several aspects and achieved long-term cooperation in realizing peace and prosperity.

According to Wang, Southeast Asia is the region with the fastest-growing economy in the world, rapidly improving people's living standards.

Meanwhile, China has achieved important consensuses with Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia in building future communities.

"When President Xi Jinping visited Indonesia in 2013, he proposed the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. In the last decade, several vital projects have been completed," Wang noted.

Some of the projects include the port toll road in Cambodia, the Lao-China Railway (LCR) connecting ASEAN and China, and the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail (KCJB).

Therefore, the ASEAN-China cooperation has resulted in real benefits for people in both regions, he concluded.

China also expressed support for the TAC and ASEAN's centrality in developing an inclusive regional architecture.

Furthermore, China highlighted several priority areas of cooperation, such as agriculture, the development of electric vehicles, the blue economy, and people-to-people contacts.

The post-ministerial meeting also emphasized the importance of post-pandemic connectivity revitalization, including the realization of China's commitments to regional infrastructure development.

Indonesia is hosting the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta from July 10 to 14, 2023, to discuss issues affecting the region, foster cooperation with ASEAN partners, and prepare for the 43rd ASEAN Summit in September in Jakarta.

Related news: China committed to signing SEANWFZ Treaty: Malaysian FM
Related news: FM invites China to become ASEAN's partner for open region

Translator: Katriana, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2023