Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (6th L) attends the China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Singapore, Aug. 2, 2018. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

SINGAPORE, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday welcomed the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the ASEAN-China strategic partnership this year.

China and ASEAN forged a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in 2003.

In a joint communique released at the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, the ministers also hailed an upcoming ASEAN-China maritime exercise, saying the exercise in October will enhance confidence and trust among the ASEAN and Chinese navies.

The ministers said they looked forward to the adoption of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 at the ASEAN-China summit in Singapore in November, as well as the designation of the year 2019 as the ASEAN-China Year of Media Exchanges.

The ministers said they warmly welcomed the continued improving cooperation between ASEAN and China and were encouraged by the progress of the substantive negotiations toward the early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea on a mutually-agreed timeline.

They noted that ASEAN member states and China had agreed on a single draft COC negotiating text at an ASEAN-China senior officials' meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in Changsha, China, on June 27.

Discussions at Thursday's ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting focused on continued efforts to build a resilient and innovative ASEAN, ASEAN's relations with external partners, including through ASEAN-led platforms, and the importance of ASEAN Centrality and unity amidst rapid changes in Southeast Asia and beyond, according to the joint communique.