AKP Beijing, August 22, 2026 —

On Aug. 20, 2026, H.E. Dr. Chem Widhya, Secretary-General of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), said at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Seminar for Parliamentarians of ASEAN Countries in Beijing that parliamentary exchanges play an important role in deepening mutual understanding and strengthening ASEAN–China relations.

He noted that 2026 marks the 35th anniversary of ASEAN–China Dialogue Relations and the 5th anniversary of the ASEAN–China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and stressed the importance of sustained dialogue, ASEAN Centrality, and parliamentary diplomacy in further advancing relations between ASEAN and China.

He emphasised that parliamentary diplomacy serves as an important complement to state diplomacy, while enhanced communication and cooperation among legislative institutions can help deepen mutual understanding and promote regional peace, stability, and cooperation.

H.E. Dr. Chem Widhya also reaffirmed the longstanding relationship between AIPA and the National People’s Congress of China. He noted that the National People’s Congress has held Observer status with AIPA since 1991, and that the two sides have maintained close parliamentary exchanges and cooperation over the years.

H.E. He Wei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, attended the opening ceremony of the 3rd Seminar for Parliamentarians of ASEAN Countries in Beijing on Aug. 20 and delivered remarks. He said that the seminar, themed “Strengthening Exchanges among Legislatures to Foster the China–ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” reflects China’s willingness to deepen exchanges and mutual learning with the parliaments of ASEAN countries and contribute to building a closer China–ASEAN community with a shared future.

A Cambodian parliamentary delegation led by H.E. Yos Phanita, Chairman of the Commission on Economy, Finance, Banking and Auditing of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and accompanied by National Assembly Member Sorn Sarana, participated in the seminar.

At the opening ceremony, H.E. Yos Phanita recalled that 70 years ago, in February 1956, His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk made his first visit to Beijing and was welcomed by Chairman Mao Zedong. He expressed his appreciation for China’s longstanding provision of medical care to His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Mother, as well as for the leadership of President Xi Jinping, particularly the “Fuxian Consensus,” which helped strengthen the ceasefire and create favorable conditions for rebuilding peace. He also expressed gratitude to China for its longstanding assistance and support to Cambodian displaced persons in alleviating their difficulties.

H.E. Yos Phanita noted that in recent years, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN has surpassed US$1 trillion. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s trade with ASEAN countries reached US$11.68 billion in the first seven months of 2026, representing a 20.7 percent year-on-year increase.

H.E. He Wei said that China and ASEAN countries are linked by rivers and mountains, making them good friends and good partners. He emphasised the need to strengthen environmental protection, promote the high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and deepen cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and clean energy. He also called for respecting the “ASEAN Way,” promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and strengthening people-to-people ties.

H.E. He Wei also encouraged ASEAN parliamentarians to continue engaging in exchanges through platforms such as the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), further sharing legislative experiences and strengthening mutual learning.

The seven-day seminar focuses on governance, clean energy, agriculture, connectivity, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence.

The seminar provided a platform for ASEAN parliamentarians and the National People’s Congress of China to strengthen exchanges and share experiences, while further demonstrating AIPA’s positive role in promoting regional dialogue and cooperation through parliamentary diplomacy. As ASEAN–China relations continue to deepen, strengthened exchanges and cooperation between their legislative institutions can help enhance mutual understanding and provide further impetus to the sustained development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

By Freya Song
Special Correspondent, Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP)