ASEAN and Chinese Scholars Draw Wisdom for ASEAN-China Relations

On 21 February 2025, the High-Level Think Tank Seminar on ASEAN-China Relations with the theme "Navigating the Future of ASEAN-China Relations: Challenges and Opportunities" was successfully held in Beijing, co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing. 

Nearly 20 high-level scholars and heads of renowned think tanks from 8 ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China participated in the seminar, including Former Foreign Minister of Indonesia Hassan Wirajuda，Director General of Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Philippines Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III, Former President of China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) Xu Bu, Former Ambassador and Executive Board member of Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies U Htin Lynn, Senior Advisor of Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam Nguyen Vu Tung, President of the BRI Caucus for Asia Pacific (BRICAP) Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat etc. Ambassador Jaime A. FlorCruz of the Philippines to China and diplomats from all Embassies of AMS in China, as well as representatives from the Department of Asian Affairs attended the event.

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC, Ambassador Dato' Norman Muhamad of Malaysia to China, Director-General Liu Jinsong of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the opening ceremony. 

Shi Zhongjun underlined that the world has entered another round of turbulence, transformation and unpredictable circumstances, countries in the region will face high global uncertainty this year. As twin engines driving steady and sustainable growth in the region and even the world, China and ASEAN need to make concerted efforts to align with the trends of era and make prudent historical choices. This Seminar was an important platform to promote exchanges among scholars, to gather wisdom and practical suggestions, advance greater development of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and inject more stability and certainty into the region and the world. 

Ambassador Dato’ Norman Muhamad stated that ASEAN-China relations have grown from strength to strength. In an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic landscape, both sides are dedicated to strengthening strategic planning and collective efforts, to ensure the strategic partnership remain dynamic, resilient, and forward-looking. Liu Jinsong said that China firmly supports a united, prosperous, and strong ASEAN and ASEAN’s centrality in regional cooperation. As important forces in the Global South, China and ASEAN must engage in closer unity and cooperation, to create a favorable strategic environment for common development and long-term peace and prosperity of the region, to anchor the building of a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

The participants gave high acknowledgement of the remarkable achievements attained since the establishment of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations. They had an in-depth discussion on the internal and external opportunities and challenges facing ASEAN-China relations in an era of uncertainty, and put forward valuable suggestions for development of bilateral relations, including facilitating constructive engagements, enhancing mutual trust and confidence, promoting multilateralism and building stronger regional order, enhancing multifaceted connectivity, facilitating and liberalizing trade and investment, fostering new highlights for regional cooperation such as sustainable growth, green economy and blue industries, artificial intelligence, and strengthening closer and stronger people-to-people relations.

The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community. Malaysia has taken over the ASEAN chairmanship while acting as the country coordinator for China-ASEAN relations. The year 2025 is also the second year of ASEAN-China People-to-people Exchanges. This Seminar was held to gather valuable insights and inputs from academic and diplomatic representatives from ASEAN and China to prepare for future challenges and opportunities, enrich the achievements of ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges (ACYPPE), and promote the inclusive and sustainable development of ASEAN-China relations. 

After the Seminar, the participants and diplomats from the Embassies of AMS in China visited the National Museum of China, to experience the history and development story of China.