Resources for China–ASEAN Relations: April 2021 to June 2021: 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

CHINA–ASEAN RELATIONS APRIL 2021 TO JUNE 2021: CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

APRIL 2021

1st	Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein in Nanping city, Fujian province. The meeting highlights the need to jointly foster new sources of cooperation in fields such as 5G, digital economy, modern agriculture, intensive food processing and halal food certification. Both sides sign the Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a High-level Committee on Malaysia–China Post Pandemic Cooperation. At the joint press conference, Wang expresses support towards the upcoming ASEAN Leaders Special Meeting to mediate the situation in Myanmar after the military coup.
2nd	Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin also in Nanping city, Fujian. They discuss the arrangement of mutual recognition of health codes, as well as global and regional issues of common concern. The Chinese side hopes that the Philippines will support the implementation of the "Spring Sprout" programme, a global campaign by China to provide its citizens overseas with COVID-19 vaccinations. The Philippine side supports making use of the 30th anniversary of China–ASEAN dialogue relations as an opportunity to lift bilateral relations, and welcomes China's proposal of holding a special ASEAN–China foreign ministers' meeting. The Philippines hopes to accelerate consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Sea. The Philippines and ASEAN countries attach importance to and will attentively study the Global Initiative on Data Security proposed by China. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also receives Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Nanping city on the same day. Wang expresses hope of establishing a bilateral comprehensive economic partnership with Indonesia. Wang says China is willing to work with ASEAN countries including Indonesia to ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership at an early date, and supports Indonesia to host next year's G20 Summit. China will continue to maintain good cooperation with Indonesia under the framework of multilateral mechanisms to jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. Both sides reach a consensus on their positions on the situation in Myanmar, and agree to encourage all parties in Myanmar to seek political solutions within the ASEAN framework.
16th	Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the new Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son share a telephone conversation. Both ministers agree to advance trade and investment cooperation in the post-pandemic period, and jointly work to drive the Lancang–Mekong Cooperation mechanism. The Vietnamese side expresses hope of enhancing cooperation in multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations. Both sides also agree to commence a China–Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation meeting to coordinate bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
18th–21st	The 2021 Boao Forum for Asia takes place in Hainan province, China with online and onsite participants. This year's forum adopts the theme "A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation", and aims to build consensus on development and raise confidence in growth while preventing pandemic spread. Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the conference audience via video link and urges countries to place equality, mutual respect and mutual trust in the forefront.
20th	Indonesian President Joko Widodo holds a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi affirms the commitment to continue collaboration with Indonesia in building a regional vaccine production centre, and urges Indonesia to jointly oppose any "vaccine divide" and "vaccine nationalism". He also suggests that both sides develop new growth areas such as new energy and maritime cooperation, and strengthen collaboration in fields like the digital economy. Jokowi expresses willingness to strengthen cooperation with China in vaccine production.
21st	The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Embassy of Laos in...