Chronologies
China - Southeast Asia
Chronology from Sep 2011 to Dec 2011
: Vice President Xi Jinping visits Vietnam and Thailand. In Vietnam, he meets officials and reaffirms the importance of bilateral political, economic, and security relations. In Thailand, he signs a series of economic agreements, including a three-year bilateral currency swap arrangement and a joint high-speed train project.
: Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo attends the Fourth Summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation (GMS) and calls for closer regional transportation and infrastructure cooperation to help foster regional business, trade, agricultural, and economic relations.
: Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi visits Beijing and meets Minister of Defense Liang Guanglie and Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission. They agree to advance bilateral military cooperation.
: China hosts the second round of the China-ASEAN Defense and Security Dialogue. Discussions focus on building and strengthening mutual trust and cooperation between security officials.
: China joins Mekong River security patrols with forces from Myanmar, Laos and Thailand for the first time.
: Cai Yingting, deputy chief of general staff of the PLA, visits Laos to discuss expanding bilateral military exchanges to promote regional peace and stability.
: Wu Bangguo, chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, meets Cambodian counterpart Heng Samrin in Beijing. They agree to consolidate further bilateral cooperation, including security exchanges and parliamentary visits. China also pledges to share its experiences on economic development and poverty alleviation measures.
: Chinese and Laotian officials pledge closer cooperation on poverty alleviation and economic development, increasing trade ties, and agricultural training.
: Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing visits China and meets Vice President Xi Jinping and Xu Caihou, vice chair of the Central Military Commission to promote and deepen military cooperation.
: Premier Wen Jiabao visits Brunei and meets state officials.
: Premier Wen Jiabao attends ASEAN-related meetings in Bali and reassures regional leaders that China will not seek hegemony in the region but will maintain its firm stance on the South China Sea issue.
: President Hu Jintao attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting in Honolulu. On the sidelines, he meets Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang to discuss a comprehensive bilateral strategic partnership.
: China announces it will provide nearly $9.5 million to Cambodia for flood relief.
: Gen. Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the general staff of the PLA, attends the first ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+) Experts Working Group Meeting on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and calls for strengthening military-to-military cooperation in these areas. The meeting draws more than 50 officials from ASEAN member countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the US.
: Officials from China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand formally establish the “Law Enforcement Cooperation along the Mekong River Mechanism” to jointly tackle cross-border crime and ensure the safety of passenger and cargo ships along the Mekong River.
: Premier Wen Jiabao attends the opening ceremony of the eighth China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
: China and Vietnam agree to hold regularized bilateral discussions twice a year to help reduce tensions in the South China Sea. Officials also announce that they would set up a hot line to address any disagreements.
: Vice President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi meet Myanmar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin in Beijing to discuss the settlement of the suspended Myitsone hydropower dam project. They reaffirm the commitment to maintain their strategic and comprehensive partnership.
: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that at least 12 Chinese nationals were killed on Oct. 5 on the Mekong River after two Chinese cargo ships were attacked and hijacked. Officials from China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos agree to maintain close communication and cooperation to handle the investigation and ensure the safety of cargo ships.
: He Guoqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, meets a Laotian delegation led by Bounthong Chitmany, president of the Central Control Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, in Beijing to discuss bilateral cooperation in the areas of anti-corruption, future prospects for furthering exchanges, and sharing governance experiences in tackling corruption issues.
: Senior Chinese and Vietnamese military leaders conclude a dialogue, agreeing to broaden bilateral defense and security cooperation and to build mutual trust and confidence by engaging in continued senior-level consultation to help resolve regional territorial disputes.
: Wang Jiarui, director of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee meets visiting Laotian President Choummaly Saynasone. They agree to strengthen the strategic partnership between China and Laos.
: Li Jinhua, vice-chair of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, visits Indonesia and meets counterpart Taufik Kiemas. They agree to foster deeper bilateral political ties and exchanges.
: Officials and experts meet in Jakarta for the annual China-ASEAN Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction. Discussions focus on ensuring that economic growth is both sustainable and inclusive.
: The fifth China-Vietnam Steering Committee on Cooperation meeting convenes in Hanoi to focus on bilateral management of the South China Sea. They agree to resolve differences in accordance to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.