China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have upgraded their ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," President Xi Jinping said in a rare appearance at a special online summit on Monday.The meeting commemorating the 30th anniversary of dialogue between China and ASEAN this year was held with Beijing eager to boost its clout in the region with security tensions with the United States escalating in nearby waters.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang usually represents China at ASEAN-related summits, but Xi participated in the latest gathering to underscore Beijing's commitment to bol…READ FULL ARTICLE
