China-ASEAN Relations, January 2014 To April 2014: Chronology of Events

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

JANUARY 2014 TO APRIL 2014: CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

January 2014

2nd	Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of International Cooperation Hor Namhong at Zhongnanhai, where the First Meeting of Inter-Governmental Coordination Committee between China and Cambodia is held. They hope the first meeting will kickstart the alliance between the two countries to implement the action plan of comprehensive strategic partnership, deepen cooperation in key areas and promote good bilateral political relations.
8th	Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng attends the opening ceremony of Lao Consulate General in Shanghai. In a meeting held before the ceremony between Shanghai’s Executive Vice Mayor Tu Guangshao and Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Sounthone Xayachack, both sides hope that in the spirit of “good neighbours, friends, comrades and partners”, Laos and China will continue to strengthen all-round cooperation and develop a comprehensive strategic partnership. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin meets with a Vietnamese delegation led by Tran Duy Hai, deputy head of the National Border Committee under the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is in China to attend the first round of the Working Group Consultation on China-Vietnam Joint Maritime Development. Liu gives positive comments on the joint development consultation launched by China and Vietnam, and Tran expresses his willingness to join hands with the Chinese side and actively engage in reaching a consensus on relevant issues in the bilateral maritime cooperation.
9th	Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and Chairman of the 2014 Senior Officials’ Meeting for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Li Baodong meets with visiting Singapore Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Trade and Industry Ow Foong Pheng. They exchange views on various issues including the cooperation plan of the 2014 Informal APEC Summit.

February 2014

15th	The 12th Meeting on Implementation of the Agreement of Management and Cooperation of the China-Myanmar Boundary is held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The Chinese delegation is led by Ouyang Yujing, director general of the Boundary and Ocean Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Myanmar delegation is headed by U San Lwin, director general of the Political Department of Myanmar Foreign Ministry. Both sides discuss a range of topics relating to boundary management, border immigration, opening of new checkpoint and security issues of the border areas. This meeting is arranged in light of the Agreement of Management and Cooperation of the China-Myanmar Boundary which was signed by the two countries in 1997. The China-Myanmar Boundary Treaty was signed in 1960 and since then the two countries maintained effective management and sound cooperation on boundary issues.
25th	Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin attends the reception of Brunei Darussalam’s 30th National Day held by the Bruneian Embassy in China, and exchanges views with Bruneian Ambassador to China Magdalene Teo on bilateral relations and topics of common interests.
27th–28th	Delegates from 27 members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the European Union (EU), China, Japan, Russia and over 100 members from other regional and international organisations attend the 13th ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-sessional Meeting on Disaster Relief, held in Chengdu, Sichuan province. This annual meeting, sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, convenes delegates and organisations from various regions and countries to exchange experiences in responding to recent major disasters, and hold discussions about disaster warning, risk assessment, humanitarian materials reserve, emergency response despatch, post-disaster damage assessment and reconstruction in disaster areas. A broad consensus is reached on deepening regional cooperation in disaster relief, helping developing countries to upgrade their response capability to natural disasters, and strengthening coordination and cooperation among various regional cooperation mechanisms.

March 2014

11th	Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng meets with visiting Malaysian Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China Ong...