Beijing Diary: Nurturing ASEAN-China Relations

Beijing Diary By Samantha Tan Hiew Ting Bernama's correspondent in Beijing Samantha Tan Chiew Ting shares her take from China's capital city. BEIJING, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- Though China's trade with ASEAN nations goes back to more than a millennia, political and social relations are a rather recent development. Even Malaysia established diplomatic ties with China only in 1974. Nevertheless, China and ASEAN share many things in common including a Chinese Diaspora spread across the 10 ASEAN nations that has a combined population of 600 million. ASEAN too has vastly benefited from China's rise as a world economic power, with the spillover effects felt by the region. Of course there is the other side too, China's actions in South China Sea has been a cause of concern for many members of the regional grouping and the world. Analysts and diplomats opine that members of the grouping have to continue engaging with China for both mutual benefit and to iron out differences. CHINA TOO APPRECIATES ASEAN China in return is also doing its level best to engage with ASEAN. Last year ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) celebrated its fourth anniversary and played an active role in connecting the people by promoting functional cooperation and exchanges in the areas of trade, investment, education, culture and tourism, as well as public relations and media. ACC Secretary-General Yang Xiuping said China and ASEAN were ushering in a new beginning in their ties with broad prospects and great potential for bilateral cooperation. CONNECTING THE PEOPLE THROUGH MUSIC, FOODS There are many avenues to establish people to people contact between both sides, through food, cultural exchanges as well as learning and cherishing each other's music. The recent China-ASEAN Friendship Concert 2015 themed 'Our Region, Our Song' showed people could be easily connected and enjoy each other's songs despite of the different languages. State-owned China Radio International (CRI)'s deputy director for the Southeast Asia Broadcasting Centre and Director of Malay Service, Zhang Wenwen said the concert was to promote mutual understanding between the people of China and ASEAN and evoked a warm feeling of friendship and cultural harmony. CRI as the main organiser, plans to make the friendship concert as an annual event in order to strengthen the relationship between the people of China and ASEAN for years to come. With the passage of time old guards will give way to new ones, thus it is only wise that the present younger generation play a role in ensuring an enduring friendship with China THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT THROUGH TRADE AND INVESTMENTS Besides trade and investment there is always niche segments that can be looked into. For example Malaysia's strength in halal products could be further enhanced to increase trade volume with China. Besides exporting bird nest and durian to Chinese mainland, Malaysian enterprises should focus on halal segment using China as the platform to export to the world. Although good cooperation and understanding in economic, culture and people-to-people ties exist, there is also a need to enhance mutual understanding to develop greater regional neighbourhood. YOUTH'S ROLE CRUCIAL TO ENSURE LONG-STANDING RELATIONS REMAIN Former Malaysian ambassador to China Iskandar Sarudin said it is important to nurture the younger generation to appreciate the friendship established between Malaysia and China for the past 41 years. "We should educate the people from young to ensure the relationship between the two countries remain strong. They have to know how to carry the responsibility to keep the friendship that began 41 years ago," he said. He said Malaysia-China relationship has progressed well, not only between the governments of both countries but also the people and business community. "The Malaysia-China relationship is on the right track, bringing benefits and opportunities and this should be continued with the support from the people," he said -- BERNAMA