Chinese FM official to attend East Asia meetings

A series of Senior Officials' Meetings (SOM) on East Asia cooperation, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK) SOM, the East Asia Summit (EAS) SOM, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) SOM, will be held via video link from July 20 and 21, and Chinese vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui will attend the above meetings, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Friday.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a press briefing that currently, regional countries in East Asia are all at a critical stage in fighting COVID-19 and resuming development. China is willing to work with all parties to coordinate epidemic control and economic development, build political consensus, and promote practical cooperation via these meetings.

"The SOMs will prepare for the series of the leaders' meetings and foreign ministers' meetings on East Asia cooperation, which will be held in the second half of this year," Hua said.

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious impact to people's safety and health, as well as to the socio-economic development of the world, the spokesperson said, adding that against this adverse situation, regional countries have joined hands in combating COVID-19 under the East Asia regional cooperation mechanisms.

"The special summit of ASEAN, China, Japan and ROK (ASEAN Plus Three countries or 10+3), and the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting have demonstrated our will and determination to overcome difficulties with concerted efforts," she said.

"These countries have set an example of jointly fighting against COVID-19," she said.

These regional countries have made remarkable achievements in mutually providing material assistance, sharing experience and technology, promoting joint construction of "fast lanes" for personnel exchanges and "green channels" for cargo transportation, and keeping the supply and industrial chains stable, she said.

She said the first half of this year has witnessed a growth in China's imports and exports with ASEAN. The total trade volume between China and ASEAN has grown by 5.6 percent, and ASEAN has emerged as China's largest trading partner, while China has been ASEAN's biggest trading partner for 11 consecutive years.