China-ASEAN Relations, April 2010 to September 2010: Chronology of Events

Abstract

APRIL 2010 3rd The Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation between Indonesia and hold its 10th Session at Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and his counterpart, Indonesian Minister of Trade, Mari Elka Pangestu, jointly host the session. Indonesia and agree to implement the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) as scheduled and not postpone its application on 228 tariff posts as requested by Indonesian entrepreneurs. 5th During the Mekong River Commission Summit, makes a strong commitment for the first time to the five countries on the lower Mekong: Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. All countries should have a discussion before building dams that might damage the environment or harm people living along the river. The Summit endorses a declaration over four issues: a) food security, energy and hydropower development; b) climate change impact mitigation; c) infrastructure development; and d) increasing involvement of civil society stakeholders in planning activities and the decision-making processes. 5th Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Chinese Trade Minister Chen Deming meet at the State Palace in Jakarta. Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Hatta Rajasa, says that China will allocate more than USD15 billion [for investment] in the ASEAN region. For Indonesia, this will be prioritised on infrastructure and transportation. 9th A Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) is signed during the 16th Summit of ASEAN held at Hanoi. The DOC is an important document between the ASEAN and aimed at promoting trust-building and cooperation. The concerned parties pledged to observe and accelerate the implementation of the commitment. 13th President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao exchange congratulatory messages with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between their countries. Vice President Xi Jinping and his Indonesian counterpart Boediono also exchange congratulatory messages on the occasion. 16th The ASEAN-China Joint Working Group convenes a meeting on implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in Hanoi. The two-day meeting underlines the significance of the DOC in order to develop trust and ensure peace, stability, security and cooperation in the region. 22nd-25th Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pays an official visit to Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar at the invitations of the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein. 27th An ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Consultation Meeting takes place in the central city of Hue, with the participation of assistant foreign ministers from the ten ASEAN countries and China. Vietnamese Assistant Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue co-chair the meeting which includes the ASEAN Deputy General Secretary. MAY 2010 4th Member countries of the ASEAN agree to jointly negotiate with on oil exploration projects in the resource-rich but hotly-contested Spratly Islands in the South Sea. During the ASEAN summit in Hanoi, members agree to negotiate as one body to avoid being placed in a weakened bargaining position with China. 17th Vietnamese Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh meets with visiting Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Ma Xiaotian, in Hanoi. At the meeting, Thanh welcomes the Chinese delegation, led by Ma to attend the Security Policy Conference of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Vietnam. 20th Taiwanese president Ma Ying Jeou says Taiwan will push for bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with the ASEAN member states once it has inked the Taiwan-China Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). …