On August 23, 2011, State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the reception in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations in Beijing. There were about 500 representatives attending the event, including the officials from China-ASEAN Association, officials from related Chinese ministries and commissions, experts, scholars, ambassadors of ASEAN countries to China, the members of the delegation from the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN and business representatives.

Dai said in his speech that the Chinese government wishes to extend the most sincere greetings and the best wishes to those who are committed to the long-term friendship of China-ASEAN. Dai spoke highly of China-ASEAN relations. He said that over the past 20 years the world has undergone major changes and development, China and ASEAN have also witnessed remarkable development and the great development of China-ASEAN relations have brought great benefits to the people. Over the past 20 years, the good-neighborly friendship was consolidated, the economic and trade exchanges were expanded, the security cooperation was deepened, and the spiritual solidarity continued to grow. Consolidating and developing the strategic partnership is a common choice of China and ASEAN. China will firmly support the less-developed countries of ASEAN to accelerate the achievement of development goals and firmly support the building of ASEAN Community and the leading role of ASEAN in East Asian cooperation. China is willing to strengthen political mutual trust with ASEAN. China is willing to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with ASEAN in various fields, implement the second five-year plan of action and achieve the specific goals for the next five years such as bringing bilateral trade volume to $500 billion. China is willing to promote interconnectivity with ASEAN and actively promote the interconnectivity at sea, making it a new spotlight for China-ASEAN cooperation. China is willing to deepen security cooperation with ASEAN and make the South China Sea a sea of ​​peace, friendship and ​​cooperation. China is willing to promote social and cultural exchanges with ASEAN and drive the healthy development of East Asian cooperation.

Cambodian Ambassador to China and Rotating President of the ASEAN Committee in Beijing Khek Caimealy Sysoda said in her speech that 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between ASEAN and China, is the Year of China-ASEAN Friendly Exchange and the first anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-China free trade area. ASEAN-China free trade area covers 1.9 billion people and has great potentials. It is the world's third largest economic entity only after the European and North American free trade areas. It has attracted worldwide attention as a new force. ASEAN and China will be committed to further developing and promoting the ASEAN-China dialogue relations and achieving the common development of ASEAN countries and China and the people.

Dai also met with diplomats from the 10 ASEAN countries and visited the China-ASEAN 20th Anniversary Photo Exhibition. The artists from Guangxi and ASEAN countries also performed on the same stage.