China, ASEAN hold summit, upgrade ties amid tensions with U.S.

By: Kyodo News
22 November 2021

EXCERPT

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang usually represents China at ASEAN-related summits, but Xi participated in the latest gathering to underscore Beijing’s commitment to bolstering its ties with Southeast Asian countries, foreign affairs experts said.

China and ASEAN agreed that their comprehensive strategic partnership is “meaningful, substantive and mutually beneficial,” according to a joint statement obtained by Kyodo News.

In a video speech at Monday’s summit, Xi was quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency as hailing the good-neighborly friendship and win-win cooperation between China and ASEAN over the past 30 years.

Xi’s remarks came as Britain on Monday said the Group of Seven nations, including the United States and Japan, will invite ASEAN countries to a joint face-to-face meeting of foreign ministers in Liverpool in early December. Britain holds the forum’s rotating presidency this year.

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