Chinese FM calls on China, ASEAN to enhance political trust to build closer community of common destiny

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on July 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun)

VIENTIANE, July 24 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday called to promote the China-ASEAN relations by enhancing mutual trust, deepening cooperation and maintaining regional stability.

Wang made the remarks in meeting with his ASEAN member counterparts attending the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, capital of Laos which takes the ASEAN's chairmanship this year.

In meeting with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Wang Yi said China appreciated Thailand's part in promoting the development of China-ASEAN ties, saying that the two sides should work together to upgrade the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, taking the opportunity of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relationship.

What is important for the moment is to jointly and comprehensively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and support parties directly concerned to resolve their disputes peacefully through negotiation, Wang said.

Pramudwinai said Thailand cherishes the sound relationship between the ASEAN and China. The ASEAN and China should work together to ensure the sound development of their ties as as to achieve a win-win situation.

The two sides should continue comprehensively implementing the DOC and promoting negotiations for a code of conduct in the South China Sea to enhance mutual trust and maintain regional stability, he said.

Thailand welcomed that the Philippines and China resumed bilateral dialogue, the Thai foreign minister told Wang Yi.

During his meeting with Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Wang Yi said while the development of the China-ASEAN relations was generally in good momentum, challenges do exist, which necessitate all parties' joint efforts to maintain the overall development of the ties.

China is willing to work along with Singapore, which is the coordinating country of the China-ASEAN relations and other ASEAN members to remove all possible obstacles to ensure the development of China-ASEAN ties stay in right track, Wang said.

China and the ASEAN should enhance political trust, deepen cooperation and maintain regional stability to build a closer community of common destiny, Wang said.

The Singaporean foreign minister said the ASEAN-China ties are generally in good shape, and though there might be some challenges, the two sides should and will not allow disputes to hinder the overall development of their ties.

The two sides could reach consensus and agreements through dialogue and cooperation, which would also become an illustration of the strength of their ties.

Singapore is willing to work along with China to render the current ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting a success, help it achieve progress and thus send a positive signal of deepening cooperation between the ASEAN and China, Balakrishnan said.