On 20 February, Ambassador Xie Feng invited Ambassadors and their representatives of the ten ASEAN countries to his residence for a working luncheon on cooperation and in celebration of the Chinese New Year of the Dragon.

Ambassador Xie spoke highly of the growth of China-ASEAN relations. He noted the active efforts by both China and ASEAN countries in the past ten-plus years to pursue amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. Major progress has been achieved in jointly building the Belt and Road, and the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has grown ever closer. China has agreed with seven Southeast Asian countries as well as ASEAN on building communities with a shared future. China will stay committed to a neighborhood diplomacy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and always be a trusted and reliable cooperation partner for ASEAN. The two sides will jointly build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. As 2024 is China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Ambassador Xie expressed hope for closer interactions between the peoples, stronger cooperation between China and ASEAN and joint efforts to build a better home for the 11 countries.

Lao Ambassador Sisavath Inphachanh, as the rotating Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Washington, spoke warmly of China-ASEAN relations. He pointed out that the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN has grown strongly and the two sides have enjoyed deepening mutual understanding and trust, staying as each other’s biggest trading partner for four years. He expressed ASEAN’s appreciation of China’s support for ASEAN community building and its centrality as well as China’s valuable help to the development of ASEAN countries. ASEAN is ready to enhance practical cooperation with China across the board and take the relationship to new heights.