by Mao Pengfei, Nguon Sovan

PHNOM PENH, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Three decades on, the relationship between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has grown closer and stronger, bringing about numerous tangible benefits to both sides and their peoples, Cambodian academics said on Monday.

As 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the dialogue relations between China and ASEAN, Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said over the past three decades, China-ASEAN relationship has become "closer and stronger."

"The China-ASEAN dialogue relations have brought economic, social, technological, and infrastructural development to the region," he told Xinhua. "Chinese initiatives such as the Belt and Road, connectivity, inclusive development, and poverty alleviation programs in the region are directly connected to the three decades of partnerships."

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Matthews said China's kind support for ASEAN to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is a new testament to the close and unbreakable friendship between China and ASEAN.

"China has been the driving force in providing vaccines to the region."

Recently, the World Health Organization has approved Chinese-made vaccines, namely Sinopharm and Sinovac, for emergency use. Matthews said this approval would definitely accelerate vaccine drives in the region.

Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, said China and ASEAN have achieved a number of key accomplishments in political and economic cooperation as well as in fight against COVID-19.

He said China-ASEAN ties have been witnessing constantly stable and progressive growth and that China has been ASEAN's largest trade partner for 12 consecutive years, while ASEAN became China's largest trade partner last year.

"Both sides have shared common development by promoting win-win cooperation, mutual assistance, mutual respect, commitment to multilateralism, openness, inclusiveness, and common value of peace and stability," he told Xinhua. "COVID-19 vaccine assistance testifies this."

China has played an important role in the promotion of multilateralism in the global economy, he said, adding that China-ASEAN relations will continue to grow and be upgraded to the next level.

"Stable and progressive relations between China and ASEAN will not only bring about peace, stability, sustainable and inclusive development and prosperity for both sides but also for the region and the world."

Their comments come as the two-day Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations and the sixth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting kicked off on Monday in China's Chongqing.

Lim Menghour, deputy director of the Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute's Mekong Centre for Strategic Studies, said China and ASEAN have been working closely to revitalize weakening international institutions and cooperation based on multilateral frameworks.

"Both sides have also been deepening engagement and regional connectivity by synergizing the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)," he told Xinhua.

He said ASEAN and China should further strengthen the strategic partnership and enhance stronger relations and work together for the regional post-pandemic recovery and regional security.

"Under the spirit of openness, transparency and being responsible, China has provided tremendous support and assistance to ASEAN including the Mekong countries in the fight against COVID-19 by donating COVID-19 vaccines indiscriminately to the region, thus jointly safeguarding global public health and security," he said.

Speaking of the sixth LMC Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Menghour said the meeting is significant for the six LMC countries, namely China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

"The meeting will provide opportunities for further development in the region, particularly through the LMC Special Funds," he said.

Uch Leang, acting director of the department of Asian, African and Middle East Studies of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, said the sixth LMC Foreign Ministers' Meeting will further deepen the bonds of friendship among the LMC countries and will promote sustainable socio-economic development in the region. Enditem

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