Premier Li Keqiang sent a letter of congratulations to the launch event for the Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on May 28.

Promoting sustainable development is a fundamental solution to many global issues, and by declaring, together with leaders from ASEAN countries, 2021 as the China-ASEAN Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation last year, it is hoped that the two sides could enhance collaboration in ecology and environmental protection, disaster prevention and reduction, combating climate change, and poverty relief, among others, to create favorable conditions in multiple aspects for the region to achieve sustainable development, Premier Li said.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, the Premier noted, citing considerable progress the two sides have made in bilateral ties and cooperation.

China has always viewed ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and supports it in strengthening its central position in regional cooperation and playing a bigger role in building an open and inclusive regional architecture, he said.

China is willing to deepen pragmatic cooperation with ASEAN partners in various areas and jointly forge a closer China-ASEAN community of a shared future, through mutual respect and for mutual benefits and win-win results, the Premier added.