On 27 November 2023, H.E. Vice Chairperson Shen Yueyue of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Connecting ASEAN Events in Vientiane, co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and the Lao Embassy in Beijing. 

Shen said that 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI proposed by H.E. President Xi Jinping. Over the past decade, ASEAN and China have been actively enhancing the quality synergy between the BRI and Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. Both sides have brought into full play each other’s advantages and expanded practical cooperation so as to secure common development, which has not only benefited the peoples on both sides, but also narrowed the gap in regional development and facilitated regional economic integration. ASEAN-China Belt and Road cooperation has already become a model of cooperation among nations.

Shen further underlined four aspects critical for building a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future: First, enhancing infrastructure connectivity. Both sides should step up cooperation and materialize more significant achievements such as the China-Laos Railway and Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway. Second, promoting soft connectivity. Both sides should continue to push forward the Version 3.0 of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) negotiations and cement regional economic integration. Third, enhancing smart connectivity. Both sides should carry forward innovative cooperation in such areas as green development, digital economy and renewable energy. Fourth, strengthening people-to-people connectivity. Both sides should spend more efforts in upgrading the cooperation and exchanges in youth, tourism, education, culture and academia so as to bring the peoples on both sides even closer. 

Shen concluded by stressing that China always stands ready to forge ahead with win-win cooperation with ASEAN Member States so as to contribute to East Asia playing a bigger role in building a world of openness, inclusiveness, connectivity and common development.