China-ASEAN ties still face challenges

On Sunday, China and ASEAN members highlighted the achievements their strategic partnership has made over the past 15 years, and agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation, according to a joint communiqu�� of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila.

On the South China Sea issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterparts from the ASEAN member states welcomed the approval of the framework for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and pledged to hold further negotiations.

During the past half a century the 10-member bloc has made notable progress in establishing regional mechanisms and maintaining unity within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The ASEAN Regional Forum, for one, is the largest multinational security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region. And the regular participation of regional powers, including the Democratic People's Republic of Korea which often keeps away from international dialogues, means ASEAN continues to have a big say in regional affairs despite facing challenges.