<span style="color: #222222;">China and ASEAN have agreed to advance cooperation under the framework of 'ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)' as China for the first time agreed to the 'concept of Indo-Pacific'. The joint statement of ASEAN-China special virtual Summit to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations held on Monday said AOIP is aimed to develop enhanced strategic trust and win-win cooperation between countries in the region. Chinese President Xi Jinping also mentioned AOIP in his speech while addressing the summit as co-chair via video link.<br />''<br />''Experts consider it a big leap forward for China with respect to the concept of Indo-Pacific which has opposed this concept so far.<br />''<br />'' There are several Indo-Pacific constructs by different countries complementing each other with a broad geostrategic idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision came into being in 2016 proposed by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Later, U.S. President Donald Trump also announced U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) at the East Asia Summit in November 2019, which is an open, non-treaty-based initiative for countries to work together for cooperative and collaborative solutions to common challenges in the region.<br />''<br />''Asked for China's views on Indo-Pacific Ocean initiatives by India, which is complementary to ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Tuesday said, China has noted the Indo-Pacific initiative proposed by India. We support ASEAN centrality in regional architecture and support ASEAN in playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs, he said without any further comment on India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. Experts say that as the Indo-Pacific region is growing its influence, China has also sought to deepen its engagement in the region. China is also involved in many territorial disputes in the South China Sea and has refused to accept the Award in the South China Sea Arbitration in its dispute with the Philippines.<br />''<br />''During the special summit, the President of the Philippines mentioned a recent altercation between Chinese and Philippines vessels in the South China Sea and said problems can only be settled under the rule of law. The Philippine side also referred to the Award in the South China Sea Arbitration, noting that the arbitral tribunal found China's maritime claims have no legal basis. On the occasion, President Xi Jinping also announced the establishment of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership.</span><br />