China-Asean Relations, September 2013 to December 2013: Chronology of Events

Abstract

China-Asean Relations, September 2013 to December 2013: Chronology of Events WU Dan (bio) As a research institute based in Singapore, the EAI monitors developments in relations and interactions between China and the individual countries of Southeast Asia as well as the ASEAN grouping as a whole. This material is presented in the form of (1) a chronology of events, and (2) important documents. —the Editors September 2013 2nd The ASEAN-China Transport Ministers’ Special Meeting on Connectivity is held on the sidelines of the 10th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, China. China’s Minister of Transport of Yang Chuantang and Lao PDR Minister of Public Works and Transport Sommad Pholsena co-chair the meeting, which sees in-depth discussions on transport connectivity and constructive exchanges of views and ideas between transport ministers of ASEAN and China and representatives from the industry. The ministers consider it opportune to continue to build upon the existing collaborative mechanisms to deepen transport connectivity cooperation as both China and ASEAN member states are working to upgrade the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area and advance negotiations on the “Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership”. In this connection, the ministers have reached the following consensus: (i) to optimise the working mechanism; (ii) to consider establishing a financing platform; (iii) to dovetail with the connectivity master plans of both sides; (iv) to encourage the participation of enterprises in the connectivity cooperation; (v) to strengthen maritime transport connectivity; (vi) to strengthen air connectivity; and (vii) to maintain a balanced development. 3rd Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers his keynote speech titled “Bring the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership of Long-Term Friendship and Mutually Beneficial Cooperation to a New High” at the 10th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, China. Li stresses that China and ASEAN need to deepen and upgrade pragmatic cooperation, and push for new progress in the strategic partnership. To this end, Li proposes the following for cooperation: (i) to build an upgraded version of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA); (ii) to promote connectivity; (iii) to enhance financial cooperation; (iv) to carry out maritime cooperation; and (v) to increase people-to-people exchange. 4th China and Singapore hold the Senior Officials Meeting of Joint Committee of Bilateral Cooperation, co-chaired by China’s Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Singapore’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry Ow Foong Pheng. 11th The East Asia Summit (EAS) Senior Officials Meeting is held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, and officials from 18 countries, including the 10 ASEAN countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States, attend the meeting. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin leads a delegation to attend the meeting. The senior officials exchange views mainly on the preparation work for the Eighth EAS in October and have reached broad consensus. All parties agree that as a strategic forum “led by the leaders”, the EAS has carried out very productive dialogue and cooperation in major regional and international issues of common concern, enhanced mutual understanding and trust, and promoted the process of regional cooperation in East Asia, since its establishment. The ASEAN-China, Japan, Republic of Korea (10+3) Senior Officials’ Meeting is held on the same day in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. The parties agree to take the ASEAN plus three Leaders’ Meeting as an opportunity to fully review the cooperation in various fields and to plan for the future development, promoting the ASEAN plus three cooperation to a new level. 11th–12th The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Measures to Enhance Cyber Security—Legal and Cultural Aspects, which is jointly hosted by China and Malaysia, is held in Beijing. This is the first time that China hosts a workshop on cyber security under the ARF framework. Government officials, experts and scholars from ASEAN countries, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, the US, Canada, Australia and the European Union, as well as officials from the ASEAN secretariat, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other representatives attend the workshop. In-depth discussions revolve around the latest development in cyber security and regional practice, cyber security capacity...