China's blueprint means opportunities, not threats

BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's southeastern Asian neighbors have more to gain than lose in forging closer cooperation with the country.

China's newly outlined development path for the next decade will create more opportunities than threats for the regional bloc despite their divisions on the South China Sea issue.

During a series of East Asian leaders' meetings just concluded in Cambodia, 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), together with China and five other Asia-Pacific countries, announced to launch talks on what could be the world's largest regional free trade deal if completed.

Though some ASEAN members caused disturbances by raising tensions over disputes with China in the South China Sea, China actively supported the deal, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Those who are fixated on disputes will realize that stronger cooperation with China is set to prove a boon to ASEAN nations.

As demonstrated by China's approach to the South China Sea issue, the Communist Party of China has highlighted peaceful resolution of disputes.

It has also pushed for mutually beneficial cooperation with neighboring countries in its foreign policy for the next decade, which were unveiled at the 18th CPC congress held in Beijing earlier this month.

History offers a testament to China's sincerity and determination to engage in a win-win cooperation instead of waging conflicts with Asian neighbors.