Commitment to regional stability underscored: China Daily editorial

In an era marked by global economic uncertainty and escalating geopolitical tensions, Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visits to Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar demonstrated China's strategic commitment to fostering regional stability and prosperity.

The three countries, all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, are at crucial development stages and share a deep-rooted friendship with China. The five-day diplomatic outreach, which concluded on Sunday, is not merely a series of bilateral engagements, but also a calculated effort to deepen cooperation with ASEAN countries across political, economic and security areas.

By promoting initiatives such as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework, China aims to address the immediate development concerns of Southeast Asian nations while also planning for their long-term security and prosperity.

Wang's visits to these Mekong region countries highlight China's efforts to build a community with a shared future in this strategically vital area. Trade between China and the Mekong countries has already surpassed $500 billion, marking a 150 percent increase over the past decade. This robust economic cooperation underscores the dynamic potential of regional partnerships. By fostering such economic integration, China and the Mekong countries are paving the way for shared growth and prosperity through strategic collaboration.

Security cooperation has also seen notable advancements. A key highlight of Wang's visit was the inaugural "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism between the foreign and defense ministers of China and Cambodia. The initiative to upgrade this mechanism to a "3+3" framework, broadening cooperation to include law enforcement, social governance and combating transnational crime, as the Cambodian side told the media, indicates a readiness to strengthen collaboration on multiple levels to address complex transnational issues, thereby contributing to regional peace and stability.

Similarly, China-Thailand relations are poised for new growth momentum. As 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the visit provided a platform to consolidate past achievements and strategically align with Thailand's new government to chart a cooperative blueprint for the next five decades.

China has been Thailand's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years, with bilateral trade surpassing 1 trillion yuan ($146 billion) for the first time in 2025, a 15.1 percent increase year-on-year. China, as Thailand's second-largest export market, absorbs over 40 percent of Thai agricultural exports. Looking ahead, cooperation could expand into the renewable energy sector, as Thailand plans to accelerate its transition to clean and renewable energy. The potential for collaboration in trade, tourism and renewable energy between China and Thailand is immense.

The significance of Wang's visits extends beyond economic and trade cooperation. In the face of complex and volatile international dynamics, Southeast Asian countries are grappling with challenges such as energy security, economic stability and supply chain restructuring. The recent energy crisis, triggered by the conflict in the Middle East, highlights regional energy vulnerabilities. Countries such as Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, which depend heavily on oil imports, are particularly affected, with soaring fuel prices and severe disruptions in tourism and local industries.

China provides a crucial anchor for the long-term development of regional nations. That Moody's affirmed China's A1 rating on Monday and upgraded the outlook to stable is a positive reflection of the improving prospects for the world's second-largest economy. Deepening economic ties with China represents feasible ways for Southeast Asian countries to stabilize their economies and safeguard their peoples' livelihoods.

Wang's visits were also significant for regional security, particularly in the context of uncertainties along the Cambodia-Thailand border. China's mediation efforts have been a catalyst for dialogue, as the country has expressed its commitment to facilitating trust-building between Cambodia and Thailand and has offered platforms for direct communication between the two sides that helped reduce tensions.

By enhancing strategic trust, strengthening institutional collaboration and expanding areas of cooperation, China and ASEAN nations are jointly crafting a closer community with a shared future. This endeavor contributes not only to regional economic prosperity and stability, but also to global peace and development.

China and ASEAN should continue to advance the building of a community with a shared future, and deepen their cooperation across the political, economic and security domains to build a resilient and dynamic region.