The ASEAN-China Eminent Persons Group (EPG) was initiated at the 8th ASEAN-China Summit on 29 November 2004 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, to take stock of the cooperation and recommend measures for strengthening future ASEAN-China dialogue relations as both sides commemorate the 15th Anniversary of relations in 2006.

Since the establishment of the ASEAN-China EPG in April 2005, it has met on two occasions to review the relations, deliberate on issues, identify niches for cooperation, develop ideas, and formulate recommendations for consolidating the partnership. The Report of ASEAN-China Eminent Persons Group was worked out under the joint effort of the EPG in October and endorsed by the 9th ASEAN-China Summit on 12 December 2006 in Kuala Lumpur.