Chairman Xi Jinping put forward a strategic concept of jointly building a "21st-Century Maritime Silk Road" when he visited ASEAN countries last year. Ma Mingqiang, Secretary General of the China-ASEAN believes that Expo will prompt the development of the maritime silk road.

Q: we all know that this year, construction of the "21st-Century Maritime Silk Road" is a shared strategy put forward by China and we can see that many countries and levels of ASEAN have show their support and expectations for the Maritime Silk Road. How do you think this friendship and prosperous road between China and ASEAN can be built?

Ma Mingqiang: Chairman Xi Jinping put forward a significant initiative, which it should be said was proposed according to the reciprocal cooperation between China and ASEAN and is of great importance. Just as you say, ASEAN countries have great positive repercussions for this initiative. The main reason to put forward this open, inclusive and mutually beneficial initiative is to further push for in-depth development of the China-ASEAN relationship.

I think, China and ASEAN should strengthen their work from the following aspects in future. Firstly, the strengthening of communication and design. Secondly, I think China-ASEAN should make a big move on strengthening regional economic integration. Thirdly, provide better basic services in every field, such as strengthening interconnection construction that we often talk about. Now, reaching the agreement on infrastructure and banking is mainly to provide a better environment for a mutual relationship. Fourthly, I think we should invite more people to join in the process of ASEAN cooperation and make them participants and beneficiaries. Fifthly, continuously enlarge China-ASEAN cooperation.

On the one hand, establishment of the China-ASEAN maritime silk road firstly can prompt cooperation between China and ASEAN, which can benefit ASEAN both from China’s economic development and ASEAN development. Secondly, it is good for the social and economic development of each ASEAN member.

Q: China and ASEAN have opened a new diamond decade. What do you think the China-ASEAN Expo will contribute to our ASEAN development in the new diamond decade?

Ma Mingqiang: Now we can see that ASEAN Expo has become an international and comprehensive activity, which contributes a lot to accelerate the ASEAN Expo Free Trade Area construction, to push practical cooperation of every field in ASEAN and to prompt mutual understanding. The contribution is great and I think it will continue to be great in the next decade.

Q: Now China and ASEAN are working on the consultation and negotiation of an upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. What aspects do you think can expand the mutual cooperation.

Ma Mingqiang: Every time I come to Guangxi, I can feel the visible economic development that China-ASEAN Trade Area brings to Guangxi. Obviously, the construction of a free trade area makes a great contribution to mutual economic development. Since China established the China-ASEAN Trade Area in 2010, the China-ASEAN pragmatic cooperation has achieved great results. According to present statistics, the mutual value of trade amounts to 4436 billion yuan in 2013 and China has become the biggest trading partner for ASEAN for many years. I think the emphasis of an upgraded trade area should be back to strengthening the economic and trade area.

Edited by Brian Salter