October 2017 to December 2017: 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 (i) a chronology of events and (ii) important documents.

—the Editors

OCTOBER 2017

12th	At the 16th ASEAN and China Transport Ministers Meeting held in Singapore, the ministers reaffirm their commitment to enhance transport connectivity among ASEAN countries as well as that between ASEAN countries and China in order to facilitate growth in regional trade and investment flows. They also welcome the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Cooperation Relating to Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation between the authorities in charge of aircraft accident investigation of ASEAN countries and the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The MOU aims to strengthen aviation safety through the sharing of investigation resources, experiences and training opportunities.
15th–19th	The Regional Workshop for East Asian Volunteers' Programme, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, discusses strengthening the existing programmes and strategies to support institutional building, enhance skills of participants, and promote people-to-people connectivity through tourism and cultural exchanges. Over 50 officials and representatives from the ASEAN Plus Three countries (China, Japan and Republic of Korea) attend the workshop. The Kingdom of Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation jointly organised this workshop with the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, with support from the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Fund.
24th	The ASEAN defence ministers convene at the Fourth ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) held in Clark, Philippines and also meet with their counterparts from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States. There are exchanges of views on regional and international security and defence issues. Concurring that the emergence of extremist groups is a problem that affects the whole region, the ministers express their strong commitment to eradicate, deradicalise and prevent proliferation of extremist groups. They also endorse their support for the Philippines' fight against terrorism in Mindanao, and some countries offer to provide assistance if warranted. The meeting also provides updates on new initiatives, such as the annualisation of the ADMM-Plus and new guidelines on the conduct of informal meetings with the Plus countries, which were approved at the 11th ADMM held on 23 October 2017.
25th–27th	Chinese Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Gaoli travels to Thailand as a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the official funeral of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The funeral caps a year of mourning for the king, who passed away on 13 October 2016.
28th	The Fifth Lancang–Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Senior Official's Meeting is held in Kunming, Yunnan province of China. Acting Chinese Senior Official for LMC and Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, Xiao Qian, and Cambodian Senior Official and Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia, Sok Siphana, co-chair the meeting, which is attended by senior officials or representatives of senior officials from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The participants exchange views on the process and future plans for LMC development, as well as preparatory works for a series of meetings in the next stage. Representatives of countries along the Mekong River commend the important leading role that China has played and express the willingness to intensify cooperation with China, so as to jointly push the LMC towards greater development, narrow the gap of regional development and advance development and prosperity in the region.
31st	China, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Brunei take part in a joint maritime search and rescue exercise. The exercise simulates a collision between a Chinese passenger ship and a Cambodian cargo vessel in the waters off the southern coast of China's Guangdong province. It involves about 1,000 participants, 20 ships and three helicopters, and is the largest scale maritime rescue drill between China and ASEAN countries.

NOVEMBER 2017

2nd	Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou visits...