Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN, delivered a lecture on ASEAN-China dialogue relations on 27 November 2018 at the Chongqing University in Chongqing, China.

In her presentation entitled “ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership: Vision for the Region, Vision for the Future,” Ambassador Buensuceso described China as one of ASEAN’s most important dialogue partners, and that ASEAN-China dialogue cooperation has expanded tremendously across the political, economic and socio-cultural pillars since the establishment of their partnership in 1991.

She said that ASEAN and China will continue to engage at the highest levels to promote cooperation through ASEAN-led mechanisms, including through the annual ASEAN-China Summit.

In the next 10 years, Ambassador Buensuceso opined that ASEAN and China will remain as key pillars in the evolving regional architecture and will further strengthen their solid strategic partnership.

“ASEAN and China will continue to contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region,” Ambassador Buensuceso told at least 400 students and officials of Chongqing University.” She added: “I expect that ASEAN and China will also further deepen economic cooperation and contribute to the integration, connectivity, prosperity and sustainable development in the region, including the implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area agreement.”

Based on the initiatives of the leaders of ASEAN and China, Ambassador Buensuceso explained that both sides will continue to enhance people-to-people, cultural, education, and tourism exchanges to build bridges of friendship and promote mutual trust and understanding between ASEAN and China.

The lecture was part of the ASEAN-China Ambassadors’ Lecture Series organized by the ASEAN-China Centre in Beijing. END