The video conference of the 12th China-ASEAN Defense Ministers Informal Meeting was held on June 15.
The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and the second defense minister of Brunei, the ASEAN chairmanship, Harbi.
Wei Fenghe said that over the past 30 years since the establishment of dialogue relations, China-ASEAN has been united, sharing weal and woe, and win-win cooperation. The relationship between the two sides has become a model of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and China has embarked on a new journey of building a socialist country in an all-round way.
China will strengthen the alignment of the “Belt and Road” initiative with ASEAN’s development strategy, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and push the China-ASEAN strategic partnership to a higher level.
Wei Fenghe stated that defense and security cooperation is an important support for the building of a China-ASEAN community of shared future. Both parties should continue to enhance strategic mutual trust, improve cooperation mechanisms, and expand cooperation areas.
China is willing to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN countries in the fields of national defense and army building, continue to actively provide vaccines and other anti-epidemic materials assistance, and make China's efforts to jointly defeat the epidemic.
On the South China Sea issue, relevant parties should build consensus, manage differences, promote cooperation, and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the South China Sea.
The leaders of the ASEAN defense department spoke highly of the development of ASEAN-China relations, thanked China for its support and assistance in epidemic prevention and control, and would like to work hand in hand with China to better maintain regional peace, stability, prosperity and development.