A 11-point joint statement is issued after the 22nd ASEAN-China summit held in Bangkok on November 3.

We welcome the launch of the Initial Rolling Priority Pipeline of ASEAN Infrastructure Projects under MPAC 2025, which identifies economically viable connectivity-related infrastructure projects in ASEAN Member States, to complement and strengthen the existing economic and transport corridors by enhancing connectivity and mobilising investments, and encourage China to actively support the development and financing of ASEAN infrastructure projects and promote connectivity cooperation in areas such as railways, highways, port and harbours, airports, power and communication, for building better business and investment environment, the statement says.

We will promote innovative infrastructure financing in ASEAN through the mobilization of private capital and encourage financial institutions, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the World Bank Group, and funds such as the Silk Road Fund to better mobilize private capital and enhance capacity building to support infrastructure development through diversified and sustainable financing in the region, it says.

We will further reaffirm our strong commitment to conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations by 2019 and work together to achieve a modern, comprehensive, high quality and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement, it says.

We will leverage on the opportunities brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and expand cooperation in relevant areas including innovation, smart city development, digital economy, digital supply chain and work force, artificial intelligence, big data, internet of things (IoT), information and communication technologies, e-commerce and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), it says.

We will support the ASEAN Smart Cities Network, particularly in addressing challenges of rapid urbanisation, and welcome the designation of 2020 as the ASEAN China Year of Digital Economy Cooperation. We will strengthen people-to-people connectivity by supporting cooperation in areas such as education, youth, tourism, human resource and technical cooperation, media, think tanks and local governments, including building the ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship (ACYLS) as a flagship project, and cooperation on improving people’s livelihood, it says.