Chinese FM says ASEAN ministerial meetings focus on dialogue, cooperation

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi(C) speaks to the press after the meetings in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on July 26, 2016. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Tuesday that China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have exerted joint efforts to make the ministerial meetings focus on dialogue and cooperation. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun)

VIENTIANE, July 27 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Tuesday that China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have exerted joint efforts to make the ministerial meetings focus on dialogue and cooperation.

Wang told the Chinese media after the meetings in the Lao capital that most of the foreign ministers from 27 countries came to Vientiane with desire for cooperation.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relationship.

"China and the ASEAN nations have agreed to build a closer community of common destiny," Wang said, adding that they have set six priority areas for further development of China-ASEAN ties.

China and the 10 ASEAN members agreed to jointly strive to boost cultural and people-to-people exchanges as the third pillar for their cooperation besides the other two pillars, political-security dialogue and trade and economic ties.

The top Chinese diplomat said the foreign ministers' meeting between China and ASEAN nations (10+1)has made preparation for a commemorative summit marking the 25th anniversary for their dialogue relationship in September.

The foreign ministers also discussed differences, such as the South China Seaissue.

China and the ASEAN nations have reached an important consensus in Laos that they agreed to return to the right track of solving their disputes through dialogue and consultation, Wang noted.

The so-called arbitration case unilaterally initiated by the Philippineshas soured China-Philippines relations, adversely impacted regional stability and disturbed the process of implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and accelerating negotiations for a Code of Conduct (COC) by China and ASEAN members.

ASEAN foreign ministers have made it clear that ASEAN as a whole will not take a position on the so-called arbitration case, which they believe is a bilateral issue between China and the Philippines, Wang said.

He also mentioned that China and the ASEAN nations issued a joint statement on full and effective implementation of the DOC, which stipulates that disputes should be resolved peacefully through negotiation between the parties directly concerned, and China and ASEAN countries should work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

While firmly defending its territorial integrity, China is also ready to work with the ASEAN members to safeguard peace and stability in the region, and properly manage their differences so as to further promote their relations.

As for the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japanand South Korea) or "10+3" mechanism, Wang said China proposed to build an East Asia Community based on the ASEAN Community.

China has clearly stated that the East Asia Summit (EAS) should serve as a "leaders-led strategic forum," for both political-security dialogue and economic cooperation.

According to the Chinese foreign minister, the 27-member ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is mainly designed for preventive diplomacy and China will continue to play an active role in pushing forward its healthy development.