On March 19, 2010, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan in Beijing.

Yang said that it is an unswerving policy of the Chinese government to comprehensively strengthen good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "China will maintain its support for the building of the ASEAN community," Yang said, adding that China would back ASEAN playing a leading role in regional cooperation in East Asia. China was ready to enhance pragmatic cooperation with ASEAN, actively act on principles set forth in the framework of the free trade area between the two sides and promote infrastructure interconnection to contribute to coordinated development of economy, society and environment. China was ready to carry out cultural and people-to-people exchanges with ASEAN, and intensify regional and sub-regional cooperation, Yang said.

Hailing the ASEAN-China relations, Surin said the ASEAN-China strategic partnership is of great significance to the ASEAN countries. Surin thanked China for supporting ASEAN's leading role in East Asian cooperation over the years and appreciated China's support for ASEAN community building and integration process. Surin made positive comments on the establishment of the ASEAN-China free trade area on schedule this year, holding that the free trade area will further keep closer bilateral economic integration. He said the two sides should advance interconnection and enhance cooperation in fields such as investment, small and medium-sized enterprises, tourism and humanities.

They also exchanged views on global and regional issues of common concern.