Kathmandu: 2026 marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. On this occasion, Asia Pacific Daily, the Asia-Pacific Think Tank, and the Asia-Pacific Economic and Trade Development Alliance jointly held the Third ASEAN Development Forum and a themed dinner in Kuala Lumpur.

Liu Lili, Editor-in-Chief of Asia Pacific Daily, served as the host. She first expressed, on behalf of the organizers, her gratitude to all the guests for their presence. She said: "The media are recorders of history and, even more, builders of the future. Asia Pacific Daily is willing to continue serving as a 'bridge of dialogue' between China and ASEAN—not only reporting consensus, but also driving the translation of consensus into action."

For this event, former Prime Minister of Nepal Jhalanath Khanal sent a special letter of congratulation. In the letter, he wrote: "I highly commend the efforts of Asia Pacific Daily, the Asia-Pacific Think Tank, and the Asia-Pacific Economic and Trade Development Alliance in meticulously organizing this pragmatic and timely forum. By placing constructive dialogue and trade at the forefront, enhancing mutual trust, and promoting industrial synergy, this initiative plays an indispensable role in turning shared challenges into win-win prosperity."

Former President of the National Assembly and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Pokin Polakul also sent a special video message congratulating the holding of the Third ASEAN Development Forum. In his written speech, he pointed out: "ASEAN must not become a tool of any major power. The value of ASEAN lies in its ability to bring together countries with different systems and at different stages of development, replacing confrontation with consultation."

Former Malaysian Special Envoy to China Tan Kok Wai said in his remarks: "The value of ASEAN lies in enabling regional countries to jointly participate in shaping their own future. Safeguarding ASEAN centrality requires stronger coordination among member states and also requires external partners to respect ASEAN-led cooperation mechanisms. The deepening of Malaysia-China relations should add momentum to ASEAN unity and create more public goods for regional cooperation."

Heng Vuthy, President of the Cambodian National Federation for Trade, Investment and Economic Promotion, said in his remarks: "Cambodia is firmly committed to promoting stronger and more effective trade relations between China and ASEAN. We regard trade and investment as key pillars of China-ASEAN cooperation. Expanding markets, facilitating investment flows, and connecting regional supply chains help raise productivity, create jobs, enhance competitiveness, and increase people's incomes."

Thongloun Ousotthilam, Dean of the Thailand Belt and Road Economic and Education Development Research Institute, said: "Truly mature regional cooperation should, even when the international environment changes, still adhere to the direction of openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefit, and peaceful development. What ASEAN truly needs is not to be forced to take sides in major-power competition, but to maintain open cooperation with all parties on the basis of its own principles, strengthen regional economic resilience, and expand space for common development."

Tian Hengyu, Chairman of China Zhongchi International, said in his remarks: "In the coming years, China Zhongchi International will invest heavily in building international digital comprehensive trade industrial parks and logistics parks in Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Thailand, and other places. The main goal is to break down various barriers to the integrated development of international trade industries, promote the great integration and great development of international economic and trade cooperation in Southeast Asia and even globally, and help China and ASEAN achieve economic prosperity and common prosperity."

Jin Wensheng, Chairman of Asia Pacific Daily, said: "The purpose of building this high-end dialogue platform in Kuala Lumpur is to break down information barriers, facilitate resource matching, and build consensus on cooperation. We want government and business guests from various countries to communicate face to face and connect point to point, achieving an all-round leap from 'consensus on ideas' to 'project implementation,' from 'high-level interaction' to 'people-to-people empathy,' and from 'trade connectivity' to 'industrial co-prosperity.' This will help accelerate and upgrade the building of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 and jointly create a China-ASEAN regional common market that is more resilient, more dynamic, and more full of potential."

Subsequently, Goh Hin San, Chairman of the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Centre and a board member of the Ministry of Education; Hao Jinling, Executive Chairman of the World Chinese Association; Thongloun Ousotthilam; and Koh Keng Chee, Chairman of the Malaysian New Asia Strategic Research Centre, participated in a roundtable discussion, assessing the current state and trajectory of China-ASEAN relations from the political, economic, cultural, and other fields.

During the dinner, guests continued to speak freely and exchange views with one another. Together they raised their glasses and wished China and ASEAN an even better tomorrow of friendship.