HONG KONG, Dec. 13 -- China and the ASEAN countries should build a community of common destiny with strategic mutual trust to meet the supreme interests of all parties, experts from both sides said at the ASEAN Development Forum 2014 held here on Saturday.

Wilfrido Villacorta, former deputy secretary general of ASEAN and former Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to ASEAN, said "We aspire to serve as each other's catalyst in bringing about better quality of life for our peoples and in contributing to peace and prosperity in our whole region," he said.

As the university fellow and full professor of political science and international relations in De La Salle University in Manila, Villacorta also said the formation of the ASEAN Dream complements the Chinese Dream.

ASEAN neighbors hope that China will support and even act as a catalyst to the integration of the ASEAN, and of all the ecnonomies in the region, China has the wherewithal to play this facilitative role, Villacorta added.

Tao Yitao, vice secretary of the Party Committee of Shenzhen University and director of China Center for Special Economic Zone Research of Shenzhen University, said China and ASEAN share the same Asian culture, which is diversified and comprehensive, paving the way for mutual cooperation and development.

She said the two sides should accept and encourage the development of individual country while resolving the conflicts in order to reach common prosperity

Keo Chandara, deputy director general of the General Department of Agence Kampuchea Presse in Cambodia, said Cambodia and other ASEAN countries have already voiced their welcome and support to the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

He said China and ASEAN should further enhance mutual understanding and deepen political mutual trust and also expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges so as to contribute to the development of China-ASEAN relations, particularly deepening China- ASEAN strategic partnership.

"I also hope that China and ASEAN countries have the ability and wisdom to transform the dispute area into an area of peace, friendship and cooperation and will jointly upholding peace and stability in the region as well."

President of Malaysia Han Culture Center Goh Hin San said Malaysia is the first ASEAN country to establish diplomatic relations with China, and the two countries have maintained friendly relationship for many years.

He also said that as the rotating chairmanship of the ASEAN in 2015, Malaysia is keen to play a positive role in solving the South China Sea issue, and he believes China has the wisdom to handle the issue.

Goh said the South China Sea issue is a historic yet developing topic that "any petty action and provocation will be helpless and do no good", calling on the concerned parties to solve the issue through candid discussions and joint development. tended the forum to exchange views on issues of their common concern.

The First ASEAN Development Forum, themed "Building Mutual Trust and a Community of Common Destiny" was attended by government officials, experts, business leaders from the 10 ASEAN countries, China's mainland and Hong Kong.