The China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations partnership serves as an anchor of regional stability, and creates mutual benefit through consensus-building, according to a think tank forum held in Nanning on Sept 18.

Further exchanges and cooperation will tap regional potential and accelerate partnership upgrades, said Chen Lisheng, president of the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences at the 11th China-ASEAN Think Tank Strategic Dialogue Forum.

Zhang Yantong, vice chairman of the Counsellors' Office of the State Council, said "China and ASEAN have common prospects for stability and prosperity" amid the uncertainties in the world economy and emerging trade protectionism in some parts of the world.

"The China-ASEAN partnership is the anchor of regional stability," Zhang said at the forum. Moreover, innovation is the accelerator, while people-to-people connectivity is an important component.