TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - ASEAN welcomed a series of new initiatives from China at the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 9, 2025. These include the launch of a special visa scheme for ASEAN businesspeople and support for the region's digital transformation.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn confirmed China's introduction of this new visa policy for business travelers from ASEAN countries.
"China recently announced they have implemented an ASEAN visa for businesspeople from ASEAN countries, so they can travel to China more easily, for example," Kao explained during The Briefing by the Secretary-General of ASEAN on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the ASEAN Secretariat in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
In addition to facilitating mobility, China also reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation in political and non-traditional security, addressing cross-border issues.
During bilateral meetings, both parties underscored the importance of fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and set a target to conclude negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) by 2026.
Furthermore, China proposed several initiatives to bolster ASEAN's digital and technological sectors, such as the ASEAN-China Digital Academy and the ASEAN-China Digital Plan of Action 2026-2030.
China also expressed support for the region's transition in science and technology, along with other ASEAN policy initiatives. "I think it is very important to truly look at this transition in science and technology," Kao noted.
Cooperation between ASEAN and China also extends to green energy, agriculture, innovation, disaster management, and the environment. At the meeting, China reiterated its commitment to strengthening ASEAN's digital policies, including its involvement in preparing the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
Kao stated that the meeting acknowledged China's support for ASEAN's capacity building in technology and digital transformation. This reflects a shared commitment to sustainable cooperation amid increasingly complex global challenges.
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