On Aug. 29, 2013, State Councilor Yang Jiechi met in Beijing with Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries and Secretary General of ASEAN, who all came to China to attend the Special China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Yang Jiechi said, over the past 10 years since the establishment of strategic partnership, China and ASEAN have witnessed the fastest growth of bilateral relations with the most productive results. The two sides trust and support each other politically, and have set up an example of friendly coexistence between developing countries. Economically, the two sides join hands to seek common development. The two sides engage in frequent cultural and people-to-people exchanges and the friendly feelings among the peoples continue to increase. China and ASEAN have become good neighbours, good partners and good friends who pull together and assist each other in times of difficulty. China-ASEAN friendship has become an important pillar supporting peace and stability in East Asia, and has shown the world an Asian spirit of solidarity and perseverance, heralding an even brighter future for Asia.

Yang Jiechi said that, in the new situation, China and the ASEAN countries are increasingly becoming a community sharing common interests, common responsibilities and the common destiny. Both sides should chart the course and draw out the road map for the future development of bilateral relations, and actively explore cooperation in politics, economy & trade, security and other fields. Both sides should create new growth points for cooperation and continuously enrich and expand the strategic partnership. Both sides should expand and enhance practical cooperation and build the upgraded version of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA). Both sides should promote to build the financing platform for connectivity, make good use of the Maritime Cooperation Fund and carry out practical maritime cooperation. Both sides should strengthen exchanges in education, tourism, media, think tanks, youth and other social and cultural areas, enable both peoples to share more dividends of China-ASEAN cooperation and achieve common development and common prosperity. Both sides should properly handle the South China Sea issues and build the South China Sea the sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.

On behalf of the ASEAN side, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei, said that the development of ASEAN-China strategic partnership in the past 10 years is a witness of common dreams and aspirations of the two sides. It has brought enormous common interests for both sides. ASEAN will be firmly committed to deepening strategic cooperation with China and jointly safeguarding regional peace, development and stability.