Think tank discusses strengthen China-ASEAN ties

On May 13, the ASEAN-Hainan Free Trade Port Think Tank Network held its first work meeting in Hainan, attracting representatives from think tanks in China and other countries in the region, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, as well as Cambodia.

The participants exchanged views on relevant work of the network and discussed ways to strengthen China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation, as well as ties among member think tanks.

The ASEAN-HNFTP Think Tank Network was established on April 21, jointly initiated by 17 think tanks and scholars from nine Asian countries, including the China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD) and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (Indonesia). It is dedicated to facilitating academic cooperations and exchanges between China and ASEAN countries.

The meeting proposed that peace and development are facing daunting challenges due to the unprecedented changes that the international landscape is currently undergoing. This has made coordinating safety and development a vital issue for the international community, as well as regional countries.

With the aim of strengthening consensus, supporting decision-making, and creating greater impacts, the network will play a big role in providing intellectual support for economic and trade cooperation, as well as personnel exchanges between China and ASEAN, according to Chi Fulin, president of CIRD.

Jusuf Wanandi, co-founder of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (Indonesia), said that China and ASEAN have always been good partners in security and economic development. In the new global context, China and ASEAN both face the task of promoting economic growth through bilateral exchanges and cooperation, for which the ASEAN-Hainan Free Trade Port Think Tank Network will play an indispensable role.

Building on the consensus reached at this meeting, the network plans to organize collaborative research and organize joint seminars regarding regional cooperation topics.