On July 28, 2021, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Liu Jinsong attended the Conference on Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations hosted by the China Institute of International Studies. He conducted exchanges with diplomatic envoys of ASEAN countries to China, responsible officials of such international organizations as the ASEAN-China Center, and experts and scholars who were present at the conference.

Liu Jinsong said, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a video speech at the opening ceremony, in which he fully recognized the development achievements of China-ASEAN relations in the past 30 years and reaffirmed the willingness to stay as good neighbors that look out for each other in times of need, good friends sharing weal and woe, and good partners in pursuit of common development. His remarks are very instructive, highly operable, and hugely exciting. Secretary-General of ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi, guests, experts and scholars spoke highly of China-ASEAN relations, and believe that bilateral relations have enormous potential and a promising prospect. They also offered advice actively, which was quite encouraging.

Liu Jinsong said, I have been in charge of ASEAN affairs since I joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while I made my first trip abroad with a delegation to an ASEAN country, and the first time when I was accredited abroad was also to an ASEAN country. I have made many friends from ASEAN countries. As the China-ASEAN relationship is getting more mature, old and new friends need to jointly celebrate the 30th anniversary and work together to tackle the COVID-19 challenge and create a bright future. When everybody adds wood to the fire, the flames will rise high. He hopes experts, scholars, and people from all walks of life of both sides will continue to play a positive role and jointly write a new chapter for the next 30 years of China-ASEAN relations.