Chinanews.com, Beijing, January 11 (Reporter Zhang Weiran) Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference on the 11th that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN, and the friendly exchanges between the two sides have entered a "year of establishment". "The Chinese side looks forward to pushing relations with ASEAN to new heights at an important time.

　　The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday (10th) that State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines.

A reporter asked questions at a regular press conference. Since August 2020, Wang Yi has held offline diplomatic activities with foreign ministers of eight Southeast Asian countries. This visit involves four Southeast Asian countries. Can you introduce this visit to consider?

What are China's expectations for this visit?

　　Zhao Lijian said that Southeast Asian countries are China's friendly neighbors connected by land and sea and important cooperative partners in the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”. China attaches great importance to the development of relations with Southeast Asian countries and regards ASEAN as the priority direction of neighboring diplomacy.

Since last year, President Xi Jinping has achieved full coverage of exchanges with leaders of Southeast Asian countries through telephone calls and exchanges of letters and telegrams.

Premier Li Keqiang attended the East Asia Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting with leaders of ASEAN countries, and hosted the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting with leaders of Mekong countries.

China and ASEAN countries work together to fight the epidemic.

China-ASEAN trade and investment have grown against the trend, and ASEAN has become China's largest trading partner.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to select neighboring countries in Southeast Asia will achieve full coverage of bilateral offline exchanges with the 10 ASEAN countries since the epidemic.

　　Zhao Lijian said that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN, and the friendly exchanges between the two sides have entered the "year of standing".

The Chinese side looks forward to implementing the important consensus between President Xi Jinping and the leaders of the four countries through this visit, focusing on fighting the epidemic and development, deepening the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, maintaining the good momentum of regional cooperation and development, and promoting China’s cooperation with China. The relationship between the four countries, China and ASEAN has reached a new height at an important time.

China will work with ASEAN countries to make greater contributions to defending multilateralism, advancing free trade, and maintaining regional stability.

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