China Elevates Ties With ASEAN in Boost to Backyard Stability

What’s new: China has elevated its relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” President Xi Jinping announced on Monday, in a bid to manage regional geopolitical risks as well as promote friendship and peaceful diplomatic relations with its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Chairing a special ASEAN-China summit via video link, Xi said that China and ASEAN members need to pursue dialogue instead of confrontation, build partnerships instead of alliances, and make concerted efforts to address the various negative factors that might threaten or undermine peace.