China's first ambassador to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) said Thursday that China has entered a new era of relations with the 10-country group.
"China's appointment of its first ambassador to ASEAN ushered in a new era of bilateral relations," Xue Hanqin told Xinhua.
She was appointed China's first ASEAN ambassador on Dec. 30, 15 days after the ASEAN Charter went into effect. The charter indicated ASEAN's resolve to transform a regional bloc of 500 million people into a stronger, more united and effective regional body.
"The move meets the demands of growing China-ASEAN relationship," said Xue, who was previously ambassador to the Netherlands.
As important neighbors, China and ASEAN started official dialogue in 1991. China became ASEAN's strategic partner in 2003.
"China-ASEAN ties have stood the tests of difficulties," Xue said, citing China's SARS outbreak in 2003, the tsunami in 2004 and bird flu.
During the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the Chinese government's pledge not to devalue its currency helped Asian countries prevail over the crisis, Xue said.
Xue also noted ASEAN members' timely assistance to China when an 8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China last May.
China and ASEAN had sound dialogue and cooperation mechanisms in place, including the annual summit, 11 ministerial meetings and five lower-level working mechanisms.
As non-resident ambassador, Xue said her job was to "work for these mechanisms, implement the agreements and consensus clinched by leaders of the two sides, carry out the cooperation deals."
Established in 1967 by five original member countries, ASEAN's 10 member states are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Xue is the latest of China's special-mission envoys, which include special ambassadors on the European Union, African affairs, and Korean peninsula issues.
Xue has also worked as a representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and head of the department of treaty and law in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source: Xinhua
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