Established in 1997， the China-ASEAN （10+1） Cooperation Mechanism has played an important role in promoting closer political and economic ties between China and ASEAN members， and has become one of the major forums for regional cooperation.

China-ASEAN dialogue was launched in 1991. The first China-ASEAN （10+1） summit was convened in 1997 and announced the formation of the China-ASEAN partnership of good-neighborliness and mutual trust. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was created in January 2010， representing a milestone in China-ASEAN bilateral relations and initiating the process of China-ASEAN economic integration. China was the first non-ASEAN country to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and establish a strategic partnership with ASEAN， and the first major country to build a free trade area with ASEAN.

Necessary platforms for dialogue have been in place to ensure successful and effective bilateral cooperation， including the ASEAN-China Summit， ministerial meetings， and working group meetings. The ASEAN-China Center is a permanent body for promoting bilateral cooperation.