China's Maritime Silk Road Gamble with ASEAN

China and the Southeast Asian countries were linked with each other by the ancient maritime Silk Road in history, and he hoped that the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road could be aligned with the forthcoming establishment of ASEAN Community, he said.

Wang alos said:"The Maritime Silk Road must pass through Southeast Asia. Throughout history, China and Southeast Asian countries have traded goods, communicated and jointly developed our economies through this maritime silk road. This is a good tradition. We hope to connect the construction of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road with the future ASEAN Community."

ASEAN has been a priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy, and is considered a key starting point for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. In building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, China, together with ASEAN, will provide a new platform and opportunity for forging a closer community and shared future between China and ASEAN.  

Wang Yi said the key to connecting the ASEAN Community with China's Maritime silk road was discussing and constructing the project together, in order to share and enjoy the benefits together. He stressed that this is not China's project alone, and that China is seeking shared development and common prosperity with ASEAN countries.

China has proposed to designate next year as the Year of China-ASEAN Education Cooperation. 

China is willing to take building the 21st Maritime Silk Road as an opportunity, to further advance our cooperation in areas such as culture, science and technology, environmental protection and tourism; enhance exchanges among our youth, media, think-tanks and local provinces; make good use of such platforms as the China-ASEAN Center, the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week and the Network of ASEAN-China Think-Tanks; and build tourism circles in Pan-Beibu Gulf and along the Maritime Silk Road, says an official statement.