THE new year dawns amid changes unseen in a century, including the Covid-19 pandemic in particular. It will be a milestone year for China and Asean, as they usher in the 30th anniversary of China-Asean dialogue relations.
A review of the 30 years shows an extraordinary journey defined by tremendous progress. In 1991, China and Asean initiated the dialogue process marked by the attendance of then-foreign minister Qian Qichen at the opening ceremony of the 24th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
In 2003, China acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Asean’s first dialogue partner to do so, and established the China-ASEAN strategic partnership, which was again a trailblazing endeavor.