ASEAN chief highlights importance of building closer community between ASEAN, China

Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn delivers a speech at the University of Hong Kong, on Sept. 14, 2023, in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

China has remained ASEAN's largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years, and moving forward, ASEAN and China have more to do together, said Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn in a speech.

HONG KONG, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn on Thursday highlighted the importance of building a closer community between ASEAN and China for the sake of economic growth, peace, and stability.

Kao said in his speech "Shared Future: Toward a Closer ASEAN-China Community" at the University of Hong Kong that China has remained ASEAN's largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years, and moving forward, ASEAN and China have more to do together.

Noting that partnership is very important, he said the upcoming 20th China-ASEAN Expo, a unique platform that ASEAN and China have established together, can promote trade, investment and tourism between ASEAN and China.

The ASEAN chief also briefed on the developments in ASEAN, and ASEAN-China relations and cooperation, and highlighted Hong Kong's potentially constructive role in enhancing ASEAN-China relations.