On the morning of October 28, in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, ASEAN leaders and Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the 28th ASEAN - China Summit.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that before the Summit, ASEAN and China leaders witnessed the signing of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA 3.0) upgrade protocol.
At the conference, leaders assessed the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as an important pillar, contributing to ensuring peace and stability in the region, and at the same time, one of the most dynamic and comprehensive relations of ASEAN.
ASEAN and China are currently each other's leading trading partners, with total two-way trade turnover reaching 772.4 billion USD and FDI from China to ASEAN reaching 19.3 billion USD in 2024.
Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed three strategic orientations to strongly promote ASEAN-China relations in the coming time.
Firstly, the Prime Minister proposed to strengthen smart, inclusive and sustainable connectivity, including effectively implementing ACFTA 3.0, developing the ASEAN - China connectivity infrastructure system in a modern, green and sustainable direction, focusing on the high-speed railway network, blue seaports, energy-saving airports, expanding the smart border gate system, digitizing logistics processes and immigration management to promote trade and people-to-people exchanges; enhancing connectivity of smart cities, sharing digital governance technology, AI governance and renewable energy solutions in urban development planning.
Second, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of enhancing innovation, creating new momentum for growth breakthroughs; supporting both sides in building a Closer Association Program on Science, Technology and Innovation for the future of ASEAN - China (2026-2030); proposing the establishment of a joint innovation network, research institute and laboratory; organizing annual forums on green technology and digital transformation; enhancing training of high-quality human resources in technology; enhancing people-to-people, youth and cultural tourism exchanges.
Third, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that strengthening strategic trust, maintaining peace and stability in the region is a prerequisite for sustainable and inclusive development; ASEAN and China need to build the East Sea into a peaceful, stable, cooperative and developing sea area, fully and effectively implementing the DOC Declaration; soon achieving an effective, substantive COC Regulation, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS 1982, and harmonizing the legitimate interests of all parties.
