CHINESE President Xi Jinping’s visit to neighbouring Southeast Asian countries of Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia last week has sent a strong signal that China supports multi-literalism and international trade rules, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang said.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, during a press briefing following President Xi’s successful completion of his tour, highlighted that the tour focussed on good neighbourly relations, promoted mutually beneficial cooperation and achieved complete success.
Vietnam Visit
On Xi’s visit to Vietnam, Wang said the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties (Communist Party of China and the Communist Party of Vietnam) and China and Vietnam was the biggest advantage and the most important political guarantee for the development of the China-Vietnam relations.
“The leaders of the two parties and countries unanimously confirmed that in accordance with the overarching goals characterised by “six morals”, they will advance the development of their comprehensive strategic cooperation to higher quality and deeper levels, and accelerate the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance,” Wang said.
Wang added that during Wang’s visit to Vietnam, the China-Vietnam bilateral railway cooperation was upgraded, and expanded and this particularly demonstrated the determination of the two countries to seek common development.
Malaysia Visit
On President Xi’s visit to Malaysia, Wang said the most significant outcome was that the leaders of the two countries elevated the China-Malaysia relations to a new height, and announced the building of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.
“This marks another leap in the positioning of bilateral relationship after China and Malaysia announced the joint building of China-Malaysia community with shared future back in 2023,” Wang said.
Wang said the highlight of this visit is that the two sides agreed to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new “quality productive forces,” focussing on cutting edge fields such as the digital economy, green economy and artificial intelligence.
Cambodia Visit
On President Xi’s visit to Cambodia, Wang said the highlight was the joint announcement by Xi and the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on elevating the China-Cambodia relationship to an “all-weather China-Cambodia Community with a shared future in the new era,” and this marks the first time that China elevated its bilateral relationship with this Southeast nation country to an all-weather level.
President Xi’s Key Messages
During the tri-nation visit, Wang said President Xi pointed out that economic globalisation benefits all countries, and that no country can retreat into isolation.
He said President Xi underscored that trade wars will undermine the international trading system, the stability of the global economic order and the legitimate interests of all countries in the world, especially developing countries.
Wang said President Xi highlighted that as key members of the Global South, China and neighbouring countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation, and stand together to combat the undercurrent of camp-based confrontation, jointly oppose unilateralism and counter the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak, with Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness to safeguard the bright prospects of ‘our Asian family.’
“President Xi underscored that despite the headwind of mounting protectionism, China will pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening-up and share development opportunities with neighbouring countries,” Wang said.
Wang added that President Xi also underscored that China’s mega market is always open to neighbouring countries and China welcomes more high-quality products from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members.
By DELI-SHARON OSO
In Beijing, China
