China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with a number of senior government officials from the ASEAN community in Vientiene on Sunday. They discussed cooperation mechanisms, as well as the South China Sea.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with a number of senior government officials from the ASEAN community in Vientiene on Sunday. They discussed cooperation mechanisms, as well as the South China Sea.
The Chinese Foreign Minister has certainly been keeping himself busy in the Laotian capital. He discussed the South China Sea issue with the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Brunei, YB Phein Dato Lim Jock Seng. Wang urged all parties involved to return to a "Dual-Track Approach", meaning that disputes should be addressed through dialogue and consultation by the countries directly involved. He added that regional peace and stability should be maintained at all times.
"We both agreed that we should return to the 'dual-track approach', though we have encountered some disturbances and influences. The 'dual-track approach' is consistent with the stipulations in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and the spirit of international law as represented by the UN Charter. It is also consistent with the interests of the people in the region," Wang said,
His sentiments were echoed by Thailand's foreign minister Don Pramud-winai. He said his country shared China's stance, adding that Thailand would keep working with Beijing to implement the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea.
"Almost all the countries hope the Philippines can return to dialogue with China, and this is exactly what the Thai foreign minister said a moment ago," Wang said.
The Chinese Foreign Minister also met with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan, who said that he supported the idea of negotiations between China and the Philippines.
The two also talked about China-ASEAN relations in general, which both said were developing well, but continue to face challenges. The also felt that all parties needed to coordinate more.
"The most important consensus I reached with Mr Balakrishnan is that, at the 25th anniversary of the dialogue relationship between the two sides, we need to work together to remove interferences. We need to deepen mutual political trust, expand pragmatic cooperation, safeguard regional peace and stability and establish a community of common destiny," Wang said.
Wang Yi also had a chance to meet with Myanmar's State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi in Vientiane. They both promised to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation. Wang said China is willing to become a trusted partner of Myanmar in its development, and will aim to increase high-level communications. Suu Kyi, meanwhile, said that Myanmar appreciates China’s support in its economic development and national reconciliation process.
