Joint Statement of the 19th ASEAN-China Summit to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations

Joint Statement of the 19th ASEAN-China Summit to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations

Towards a Closer ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership

We, the Heads of State/Government of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the People's Republic of China, gathered on 7 September 2016 in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic, at the 19th ASEAN- China Summit to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations;

Recalling with satisfaction the growth of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations over the past 25 years and our wide-ranging cooperation;

Recognising that ASEAN-China ties are among the most substantial and dynamic, bring mutual benefits, and contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity;

Reaffirming the importance of China's support for ASEAN integration as well as ASEAN's efforts in realising ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together, including through narrowing the development gap and enhancing ASEAN Connectivity, as well as maintaining ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture;

Reaffirming that the principles, shared values and norms enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations (Bali Concord III), the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and the East Asia Summit (EAS) Declaration on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations (Bali Principles) as well as universally recognised principles of international law, will continue to guide ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations and friendly cooperation;

Reaffirming our mutual respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international law and the principle of non- interference in the internal affairs of other states; and our commitment to promote peace and stability in the region;

Reaffirming that the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) is a milestone document that embodies the collective commitment of the Parties to promote peace, stability, mutual trust and confidence in the region, in accordance with the UN Charter and universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);

Welcoming a series of commemorative activities to mark the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations and jointly celebrate the auspicious occasion;

Hereby agree on the following:

1. We are committed to enhancing the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for mutual benefit, including through the full and effective implementation of the 2016-2020 Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on the ASEAN- China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.

2. China welcomes the establishment of the ASEAN Community, and reaffirms its continued support for ASEAN's integration process and ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture. China also welcomes the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN in 2017.

3. ASEAN reaffirms that China's development is an important opportunity for the region, and supports China's pursuit of peaceful development. ASEAN notes China's initiatives such as the "Belt and Road" and the 2+7 Cooperation Framework. The ASEAN countries also reaffirm adherence to one-China policy.

4. We will continue to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to enhance mutual understanding and friendship, promote defence exchanges and security cooperation to address common security issues, including combating terrorism, transnational threats and other non-traditional security challenges in pursuit of regional peace and stability through existing frameworks and mechanisms such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and other existing frameworks.

5. We welcome the adoption of the Joint Statement of the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member States and China on the Full and Effective Implementation of the DOC on 25 July 2016 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. We reaffirm our respect for and commitment to the freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea as provided for by the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS; and undertake to resolve the territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force, through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned, in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. We also undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability.

6. We remain committed to the full and effective implementation of the DOC in its entirety and working substantively towards the early adoption of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) based on consensus. We also welcome the establishment of the Guidelines for Hotline Communications among Senior Officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of ASEAN Member States and China in Response to Maritime Emergencies in the Implementation of the DOC, and the adoption of a Joint Statement on the Application of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) in the South China Sea.

7. We are committed to further deepening and expanding mutually-beneficial economic cooperation, including through the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) and Protocol to Amend the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Certain Agreements thereunder between ASEAN and China, and working towards the early and successful conclusion of a modern, comprehensive, high quality and mutually beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. We also welcome the adoption of the Joint Statement between ASEAN and China on Production Capacity Cooperation.

8. We will continue to strengthen cooperation in the area of connectivity that will bring mutual benefits, including through capacity building and resource mobilisation for the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025), exploring ways to improve connectivity between both sides by synergising common priorities identified in the MPAC 2025 and China's "Belt and Road" initiative, and encourage the active involvement of relevant multilateral financial institutions.

9. We are satisfied with the activities under the ASEAN-China Year of Educational Exchange, including the successful convening of the 9th ASEAN-China Education Cooperation Week and the 2nd ASEAN-China Education Ministers' Roundtable Conference, the 2nd ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Visit: Education and Leadership, and are ready to expand educational exchanges and cooperation.

10. We welcome the designation of 2017 as the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation, and look forward to enhancing cooperation and activities between ASEAN and China with a view to boosting two-way tourist visits.

11. We will continue to strengthen cooperation in environmental protection, sustainable development and management of land and water resources, biodiversity conservation as well as address transboundary challenges; and strengthen dialogue and cooperation in the international climate change and other environment-related negotiations.

12. We reiterate our commitment to support and assist ASEAN's efforts to narrow the development gap between and among ASEAN Member States including through the implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan III.

13. We welcome the successful convening of the 1st Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting in Sanya, China, on 23 March 2016. We further welcome the strengthening of cooperation under existing Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, such as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and the ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC) and other relevant sub-regional frameworks to support efforts to narrow the development gap in the region.

14. We reaffirm our commitment to further intensify regional cooperation in East Asia and remain engaged in discussions and continue coordination on an inclusive and rules-based regional architecture.