On September 10, 2018, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Beijing.

Wang Yi welcomed the permanent representatives of the 10 ASEAN countries in Jakarta to visit China, and hoped that the CPR to ASEAN, as an important coordinating organization of ASEAN on its internal and external affairs and an important bridge for China-ASEAN communication, will play an increasingly important role in the future development of China-ASEAN relations.

Wang Yi expressed that China's diplomacy has always attached great importance to its relations with neighboring countries, developing countries and small and medium-sized countries. This is the tradition and characteristics of China's diplomacy. China will continue to unswervingly place ASEAN in the important position of China's overall diplomatic situation and a priority of China's neighborhood diplomacy. China is an eternal neighbor and will be a permanent trustworthy partner of ASEAN.

Wang Yi pointed out that currently, with the process of multilateralism being impacted and mounting challenges to international rules, it concerns our common interests and future to adhere to multilateralism and safeguard the international order with the United Nations as the core. China and ASEAN should work together to firmly uphold multilateral rules, safeguard common interests, and maintain regional security. China will continue to support ASEAN's central position in regional cooperation and further promote the development of China-ASEAN relations.

Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN Elizabeth P. Buensuceso whose country is the country coordinator for ASEAN-China relations and others expressed that State Councilor Wang Yi met with the CPR to ASEAN upon his arrival in Beijing after his visit to other country, which fully demonstrated that the Chinese side attaches great importance to ASEAN and is committed to consolidating and developing the already solid ASEAN-China relations. China is one of the most important cooperative partners of ASEAN. The ASEAN side expressed its gratitude to the Chinese side for its support in ASEAN's central position in regional cooperation as well as extended its appreciation for China's leadership in maintaining multilateralism and the rules of the World Trade Organization. The ASEAN side is willing to further strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side, jointly safeguard multilateral rules, and accelerate the negotiation process of regional comprehensive economic partnership agreements so as to promote regional peace and prosperity. The CPR to ASEAN stands ready to give full play to the role of Jakarta as a channel in a bid to accelerate the development of ASEAN-China relations.

The visit of the CPR to ASEAN to China is one of the commemorative activities for the establishment of the strategic partnership between China and ASEAN this year. The Permanent Representatives of the 10 ASEAN countries, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Hoang Anh Tuan and others attended the meeting.