China is willing to further enhance China-ASEAN relations, said Premier Li Keqiang in his congratulatory message to the opening ceremony of the 2017 China-ASEAN Tourism Cooperation Year, which was held in Manila, Philippines, on March 16.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte also sent message of congratulation to the event.

China and ASEAN countries enjoy longtime friendly exchanges with each other. ASEAN will be the priority of China’s diplomacy with neighboring regions. China will support ASEAN’s central role in regional cooperation and is willing to further enhance consensus and share development opportunities, making joint efforts to build a close China-ASEAN community of common destiny and promote regional or even world peace, stability and prosperity, Premier Li said.

Tourism is an important part of people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, which has promoted understanding and friendship between the people of the two sides and pragmatic cooperation in all sectors, the Premier said.

China has become the number one in terms of the number of tourists who visit ASEAN countries. This year witnesses the 50 anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN and China is willing to take the China-ASEAN tourism cooperation year as an opportunity to further promote the relations between China and ASEAN, he said.

Duterte said last year marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between ASEAN and China. The relations between ASEAN and China were warmly welcomed and the cooperation is timely, sending out the message that ASEAN and China will work together to make great achievements.

The Philippine president also sent his wishes for further cooperation between ASEAN and China in tourism, adding that he hoped that the inclusive cooperation will maintain close ties between ASEAN nations and China and promote regional peace, security and development.

Vice-Premier Wang Yang read the message from Premier Li at the opening ceremony.