Asean has upgraded ties with the China

 Australia's clinching of the expanded partnership was a symbolic win for Canberra in getting in advance of China in securing the first such address the Southeast Asia region

The affiliation of Southeast Asian nations (Asean) stated on Thursday it has agreed with China to improve their courting to a complete strategic partnership, a day after achieving a comparable address Australia.

Australia's clinching of the elevated partnership become a symbolic win for Canberra in getting in advance of China in securing the primary such deal with the Southeast Asia place, which has end up a strategic battleground between Beijing and Washington.

The assertion become made through Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah during a news conference at which he became asked approximately Myanmar's destiny attendance of Asean events, after its junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, who led a coup in February, changed into excluded from a sequence of Asian summits this week.

"Myanmar is an indispensable part of the Asean circle of relatives and their club has now not been puzzled," he said, requested if Myanmar could also be expelled from the bloc.

"Asean will continually be there for Myanmar and we have continued to provide assist via the implementation of the 5-factor consensus."

Min Aung Hlaing changed into sidelined over his failure to put into effect that "consensus", which he agreed with Asean in April, committing to ending hostilities, begin speak and facilitate humanitarian useful resource and mediation efforts by using a unique Asean envoy.

"For this meeting, we've given Myanmar area even as firmly upholding the standards enshrined inside the Asean constitution which include that of non-interference," the sultan said.

talking at a separate news convention, Malaysian foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said it was doubtful if Myanmar could join destiny Asean meetings and burdened the no-display this week turned into Myanmar's name.

asked if it'd continue to be a part of Asean activities, Saifuddin Abdullah said: "that's the a million greenback query which I can not answer."