China President Xi Jinping sent congratulatory communication to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for the successful hosting of 50th ASEAN Founding Anniversary hosted by the Philippines.
In the congratulatory message address to Duterte, Jinping wrote that China is ready to bring greater closeness to the China –ASEAN Community of Shared Destiny.
The booming ties of China and ASEAN has made China the biggest trading partner of ASEAN since 2009. ASEAN is an economic bloc of 10 member-nations in the Southeast Asia Region.
As a sign of China and ASEAN relations, the trade hit the USD 450 billion mark last year and the flight grew to 2,700 last year connecting China to the 10 ASEAN nations.
"China-Asean ties have become one of the most vigorous and enriched dialogue partnerships of Asean," Xi Jinping added.
China government earlier cited the role of the ASEAN community in contributing to regional peace, prosperity and stability in the region.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who represented the Chinese government also participated in the ASEAN 50th founding anniversary in Manila, who told reporters that the situation in the South China Sea has already been stabilized and a pragmatic cooperation has been unfolded.
In response, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano also told ASEAN journalists that China is playing a very positive role in the region because China's growing economy has fuelled the tourism industry in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Duterte said that the Philippines will continue to engage with its neighbours positively so more partnerships will grow.
Before the ASEAN 50th founding anniversary, the Chinese government announced that the South China Sea territorial dispute should not allow outsiders to resolve the dispute but it should be resolved only by claiming parties involved.
