ASEAN Development Forum Introduction

As the largest group of countries neighboring China, the Association

of

Southeast

Asian

Nations

(ASEAN) is committed to building an integrated community by 2015. Now the China-ASEAN relationship is at a new starting point, and the mutually beneficial strategic partnership is undergoing deepening and broadening development. This year marks the beginning of the “diamond decade for China and ASEAN. The two parties will jointly create an upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) and build a 21^st^ Century Maritime Silk Road. However, against the background of US strategy to “Return to Asia and “Rebalance in the Asia-Pacific Region, discordant views have been voiced in one way or another in this area. Regional hot issues like the South China Sea issue have, to a large extent, affected the regional integration process and the mutual trust and cooperation between China and ASEAN. China and ASEAN countries are confronted with many problems which need to be solved jointly. For example, how various regional cooperation mechanisms such as APEC, TPP and RCEP complement each other for coordinated development? How to eliminate barriers and build mutual trust to enhance China-ASEAN partnership? How to handle regional hot issues with “Asian approach to maintain regional prosperity and safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region?

Agenda of Forum

Sponsored by:

Asia-Pacific Division of the Xinhua News Agency

Asia Pacific Exchange $ Cooperation Foundation

Organized by:

Asia Pacific Daily (APD) a new-media platform of Asia-Pacific Regional Division of the Xinhua News Agency

New China News (NCN) LTD

ASEAN Finance News asean-info.com.sg

Forum Date: December 13th

**Forum Theme: **Building Mutual Trust and a Common Destiny

**Forum Topics: **

1. What are the opportunities and challenges for China-ASEAN in creating the “diamond decade and an upgraded CAFTA? How to coordinate the regional economic integration process with TPP, APEC and RCEP?

2. What are the meanings and main obstacles in promoting maritime cooperation and building a 21^st^ Century Maritime Silk Road? What role can ASEAN play in the process?

3. How to build mutual trust, solve regional hot issues and maintain regional peace and prosperity?

4. How should Hong Kong be integrated into the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world while maintaining its international competitiveness? What are the prospect and meaning for Hong Kong to join the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area?