Resources for China–ASEAN Relations: China–Asean Relations January 2016 to March 2016: 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 2016

21st	Chinese President Xi Jinping sends a congratulatory letter to Indonesian President Joko Widodo for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed railway project. The successful launch of the project not only sets a new record in pragmatic cooperation between China and Indonesia, but will also become a new model for bilateral cooperation in various fields, particularly in infrastructure and production capacity. Chinese State Councillor Wang Yong and President Joko Widodo attend the ceremony.
	Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao meets with Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araújo of East Timor when attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2016 in Davos, Switzerland. Li says that China is willing to constantly enhance high-level exchanges with East Timor; strengthen the strategic docking between the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and the medium- and long-term development plan of East Timor; enhance cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, fishery, energy, finance and law enforcement security; and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges so as to build a bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership.
25th	Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Singapore’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong co-chair the ninth diplomatic consultations between the two countries. Both sides exchange views about China–Singapore relations, regional cooperation and other topics.
26th	Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with visiting Myanmar’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tin Oo Lwin. Wang says that China values the paukphaw (fraternal) friendship between China and Myanmar, and respects the Myanmar people’s independent choice of development path. China is committed to develop China–Myanmar good-neighbourliness and friendship, deepen cooperation in various fields, and jointly safeguard the stability of the China–Myanmar border. China is also willing to strengthen coordination and collaboration with Myanmar in regional cooperation.
	Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin also holds talks with Tin Oo Lwin. Both sides exchange views about China–Myanmar relations, cooperation between China and ASEAN, and other topics.
	China’s Deputy Director-General of the Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry Zhang Yiming accepts the copy of credentials from the newly appointed Timor-Leste Ambassador to China Bendito Doss Santos Freitas.
	Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets Singapore’s Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Chee Wee Kiong. Wang says that President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to Singapore in 2015. Singapore is the coordinator of relations between China and the ASEAN. China is willing to work with the ASEAN countries to focus on cooperation, and promote China–ASEAN relations for development by celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN.

FEBRUARY 2016

23rd	Secretary General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) Yang Houlan calls on Le Luong Minh, secretary general of ASEAN, at the ASEAN Secretariat. Yang gives an update on the latest developments in Trilateral Cooperation, a regional mechanism to forge greater collaboration among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. They agree that the progress in ASEAN Plus Three cooperation would serve as a good basis for closer collaboration between the TCS and the ASEAN Secretariat. Minh also shares with Yang the progress of ASEAN community-building, highlighting the priorities of ASEAN in 2016, which is the first year of implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and its blueprints.
24th	Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin co-chairs the Third Lancang–Mekong River Cooperation Senior Officials’ Meeting with Thailand’s Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Vitavas Srivihok, held in Sanya, Hainan province. Senior officials of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam attend the meeting. The meeting focuses on preparations for the First Lancang–Mekong River Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting to be held in late March.
	The senior officials of the five countries of the...