今年是中國—東協建立對話關係30周年。1月15日，印尼《雅加達郵報》發表中國駐東協大使鄧錫軍署名文章《乘勢而上 揚帆再啟航——寫在中國—東協建立對話關係三十周年伊始》。文章中文內容如下：
在百年未有之大變局與世紀大疫複雜交織的特殊形勢下，2021年悄然而至。我們迎來了中國和東協關係史上又一重要裡程碑——雙方建立對話關係30周年。
回顧過去30年，中國—東協關係走過了極不平凡的歷程，取得令世人矚目的進展。1991年，時任中國外長錢其琛出席第24屆東協外長會開幕式，中國—東協對話進程正式啟動。2003年，中國成為首個加入《東南亞友好合作條約》的對話夥伴，並創造性地與東協建立戰略夥伴關係。2010年，中國—東協自貿區全面建成。2013年，習近平主席訪問東南亞，提出攜手建設更為緊密的中國—東協命運共同體。2018年，中國和東協共同發表《中國—東協戰略夥伴關係2030年願景》。2020年，面對突如其來的新冠肺炎疫情，中國與東協同舟共濟、互施援手，抗疫情、促增長、保民生，帶動整個東亞成為全球抗疫的示範區和經濟復甦的領頭羊。
中國開創了東協對外關係提質升級的多個「第一」，全面性、引領性和創新性成為雙方關係的最好註腳。2020年11月，習近平主席在第17屆中國—東協博覽會和中國—東協商務與投資峰會開幕式上表示，「中國—東協關係成為亞太區域合作中最為成功和最具活力的典範，成為推動構建人類命運共同體的生動例證。」
回望過去30年，中國—東協關係擁有日新月異的進步，也有始終如一的堅守。一是堅持和平發展，睦鄰友好。和平穩定是發展繁榮的前提。作為永世近鄰和親密夥伴，我們秉持相互尊重、求同存異、守望相助的傳統，通過對話協商妥處分歧。東亞成為和平與繁榮的綠洲，中國和東協攜手作出了突出貢獻。
二是堅持共同發展，互利共贏。中國和東協國家始終視彼此為重要機遇，秉持共商共建共享理念，堅持融合聯動發展。中國已連續11年成為東協最大貿易夥伴。去年，東協取代歐盟成為中國最大貿易夥伴，雙方首次實現互為第一大貿易夥伴的歷史性突破。
三是堅持多邊主義，開放包容。東協國家在政治制度、宗教信仰、文化傳統等方面各不相同，充分體現東協作為地區組織的巨大包容性，多邊主義也深深植根於東協的基因中。中方始終堅定支持東協加強在區域合作中的中心地位，堅定支持東協在構建開放包容的地區架構中發揮更大作用。不論國際地區風雲如何變幻，要團結不要分裂、要開放不要封閉、要合作不要對抗已經成為中國和東協國家的堅定共識。
2021年對中國和東協都將是具有重要意義的年份。中國將迎來中國共產黨成立100周年和「十四五」規劃開局之年，中國現代化建設邁上新徵程。東協2025年願景行程過半，三大共同體建設成就斐然，蓄勢進入新階段。今年是中國—東協建立對話關係30周年，我們將站在新的歷史起點上，迎來雙方關係提質升級、務實合作全面深化的新契機。今年的中國—東協關係必將好戲連臺，亮彩紛呈。
第一，高層交往掌舵引航，持續深化戰略互信。中方期待同東協舉辦一系列活動隆重慶祝雙方開啟對話30周年。雙方領導人將繼續保持密切溝通，為雙方關係發展提供有力政治引領和強勁動力。本周，中國國務委員兼外長王毅訪問緬甸、印尼、汶萊、菲律賓等東協四國，進一步深化中國—東協關係是此訪重要議題之一。在南海問題上，中國將致力於同東協國家推進合作、深化互信、管控分歧，全力維護南海和平穩定。
第二，深化公共衛生合作，攜手戰勝新冠疫情。中國正積極同東協國家開展疫苗研發和生產合作。近期，中國科興生物公司研發的120萬和180萬劑疫苗分批抵達印尼。中國將繼續以實際行動促進新冠疫苗成為地區國家人民用得上、用得起的公共產品。中方將與東協繼續加強聯防聯控，提升公共衛生合作水平，共同建設應急醫療物資儲備庫和公共衛生應急聯絡機制，為東協公共衛生人才培養、資源調配、能力建設等領域提供助力。
第三，保持經貿合作勢頭，全力推動地區經濟復甦。中國將與東協共同推動《區域全面夥伴關係協定》（RCEP）早日生效。積極尋求對接東協經濟復甦政策，有序擴大「快捷通道」、「綠色通道」適用範圍，與東協方一道實施好《中國—東協自貿協定》及升級版《議定書》。雙方將繼續穩步推進中老鐵路、中泰鐵路、雅萬高鐵等重大項目，提升互聯互通水平，高質量共建「一帶一路」。我們將攜手搶抓數字經濟發展機遇，在電子商務、智慧城市、大數據、5G等領域開展創新合作。
第四，創新人文交流，促進可持續發展。新的一年，我們將繼續開拓創新，做好中國—東協菁英獎學金、友好合作主題短視頻大賽等人文交流項目，促進雙方民心相通。今年也是中國—東協可持續發展年，中方願與東協攜手努力，加強減貧、環保、防災減災、氣候變化等領域合作，並探討建立藍色經濟夥伴關係，助力地區平衡協調發展。
陽光終將驅散陰霾，下一個春天不再遙遠！在對話關係建立30周年的歷史性時刻，中方與東協定將和衷共濟、乘風破浪，不斷深化戰略互信和睦鄰友好，加強抗疫和發展合作，共促地區經濟復甦，共同構建更加緊密的中國—東協命運共同體！
英文原文如下：
China-ASEAN Relations: Thirty Years on and BeyondDeng Xijun, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN
The new year dawns amidst unprecedented changes in a century, including the COVID-19 pandemic in particular. It will be a milestone year for China and ASEAN, as it ushers in the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations.
A review of the 30 years unfolds an extraordinary journey defined by tremendous progress. In 1991, China and ASEAN initiated the dialogue process marked by the attendance of the then Foreign Minister Qian Qichen at the Opening Ceremony of the 24th ASEAN Foreign Ministers』 Meeting. In 2003, China acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, ASEAN’s first dialogue partner to do so, and established China-ASEAN strategic partnership, which was again a trailblazing endeavor.
In 2010, China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was up and running. In 2013, President Xi Jinping proposed to jointly build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future during his visit to ASEAN countries. In 2018, the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 was issued, a blueprint eyeing the future. Last year after COVID-19 hit us all, China and ASEAN stood in firm solidarity to fight the virus, resume growth and protect people’s livelihood.
Among ASEAN’s dialogue partners, China has been number one on many fronts, which enables our relations to be proudly defined as comprehensive, pioneering and creative. Just as President Xi said in the 17th China-ASEAN Expo & China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit late last year, 「China-ASEAN relationship has grown into the most successful and vibrant model for cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and an exemplary effort in building a community with a shared future for mankind.」
Yet besides the ever-growing momentum, there are things that remain unchanged between China and ASEAN in 30 years.
First,the shared commitment to peaceful development and good neighborliness. Both China and ASEAN are convicted that prosperity is nowhere to be found without peace and stability. As permanent neighbors and close partners, China and ASEAN countries hold dear the tradition of mutual respect and mutual assistance and the wisdom of seeking common ground while shelving differences and resolving disagreements through dialogue and consultation.
Second,the shared commitment to common development and win-win cooperation. While China has remained ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years, ASEAN surpassed the European Union last year to be China』 s largest trading partner for the first time in history.
Third,the shared commitment to multilateralism, openness and inclusiveness. ASEAN is tremendously inclusive as a regional organization that well accommodates political systems, religions and cultures that cannot be more different. Multilateralism is in the genes of ASEAN. China has been firmly committed to supporting ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation and ASEAN’s greater role in building an open and inclusive regional architecture. No matter what happens to international and regional landscape, it has been a solid consensus between China and ASEAN to choose solidarity over division, openness over isolation and cooperation over confrontation.
The year 2021 means a lot for both China and ASEAN. It is the centenary year for the Communist Party of China, the first year for China’s 14th Five-Year Plan to be rolled out, and the start of China’s new journey to fully build a modern socialist country. For ASEAN’s part, it has been halfway through the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, with significant achievements in the community-building of three pillars. ASEAN is preparing itself in every way for bigger progress. And the special juncture coincides with the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN relations, a new starting point brimmed with new opportunities. Here are some highlights of the year that could be most expected.
First, China-ASEAN high-level exchanges will continue to guide our way forward.China looks forward to carrying out a number of events with ASEAN to celebrate the 30th anniversary. Our leaders will, as always, be engaged in close interactions and guide strategically. The most recent engagement is taking place this week, with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visiting four ASEAN Member States, i.e. Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines. China-ASEAN relationship is among the top priorities of his agenda. China is committed to doing its utmost to safeguarding peace and stability of the South China Sea by deepening mutual trust, promoting cooperation and managing differences with relevant ASEAN countries.
Second, public health cooperation will be deepened to end the pandemic at an early date.China is actively exploring R&D and production cooperation on vaccines with ASEAN. As a total of 3 million doses of vaccines developed by Sinovac Biotech arrived in Indonesia recently, China will continue to take real actions to make COVID-19 vaccines more affordable and accessible for the peoples of the region. China will work with ASEAN to enhance joint pandemic response, including setting up reserves of medical supplies and a liaison mechanism for public health emergencies, and help strengthen ASEAN’s public health performance, such as in personnel training, resource allocation and capacity building.
Third, China and ASEAN need to keep the strong momentum of economic cooperation and accelerate regional economic recovery.We would work for the early entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), seek greater synergy in our policies for economic recovery, expand the scope of 「fast tracks」 for travel and 「green lanes」 for cargo transportation in a well-thought-out way, and implement the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and its upgraded Protocol. We will also promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation by ensuring steady progress in key projects, including the China-Laos Railway, China-Thailand Railway and the Jakarta-Bandung Railway, to enhance local infrastructure connectivity. We will seize the opportunities of digital economy and cultivate new cooperation areas in e-commerce, big data, 5G and smart cities.
Fourth, creative efforts will be made to boost people-to-people exchanges and sustainable development.Flagship projects such as the China-ASEAN Young Leaders Scholarship and China-ASEAN Short Video Contest will expand new fronts of connections between the people. As 2021 is also China-ASEAN Year of Sustainable Development, China wishes to increase cooperation with ASEAN in poverty reduction, environmental protection, disaster relief, climate change, among others, and explore the establishment of the blue economic partnership.
Sunshine will eventually dispel the shadows, and spring isn’t far behind. As we usher in the historic year of the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN relations, we are ready to ride on the rising tide and build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future!