Last week in Indonesia, the Chinese Delegation to ASEAN, in collaboration with the Malaysian Delegation to ASEAN, organized the Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China relations. The forum was attended by ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, representatives from ASEAN member states and partner delegations, as well as representatives from governments, businesses, academic institutions, and civil society organizations.

The Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations

Ambassador Hou Yanqi, head of the Chinese Delegation to ASEAN, emphasized the importance of people-to-people relations and dialogues in building an ASEAN-China community with a shared future. According to Hou Yanqi, ASEAN and China have planned exchanges and cooperation across 12 areas, including culture, education, health, sports, youth, media, think tanks, arts, and more. They also agreed to extend the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges until 2025. Both sides reaffirmed their support for the ASEAN-China Centre and the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund, aligning with this year’s theme of strengthening connectivity and resilience.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn affirmed that people-to-people ties reflect the human-centered approach of the ASEAN-China partnership through cultural exchanges, educational cooperation, and various initiatives. Both sides cultivate mutual understanding, respect, trust, and a shared purpose for development. Kao Kim Hourn highlighted that the ASEAN-China relationship has evolved into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, one of ASEAN’s most robust, dynamic, and significant partnerships, which both sides are committed to continuously strengthening and adapting to meet the shifting challenges and needs of the times. This development is evident in the extensive cooperation across areas such as trade and investment, culture, and regional security.

The Secretary-General also emphasized the importance of connectivity initiatives, particularly the ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan 2025 and China’s Belt and Road Initiative. As major trading partners, ASEAN and China are expected to strengthen supply chains and enhance economic resilience in the region and globally. One key effort to improve ASEAN-China connectivity is the launch of the Southeast Asia-China tourism website.

The forum included two discussion sessions: the role and contributions of businesses in promoting ASEAN-China connectivity, and achievements and future cooperation to strengthen people-to-people relations between ASEAN and China. Delegates agreed that people-to-people connectivity is currently one of the strongest areas of progress between ASEAN and China, aligning with ASEAN’s principles on the pillars and future of this relationship. This concept can also be seen as a new geopolitical and foreign policy framework. The discussions aim to foster people-to-people exchanges, infrastructure connectivity, institutional connectivity, and promote economic cooperation and social development across the region.