Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. (Photo: AFP/VNA)Beijing (VNA) – China put forward a seven-point proposal on China-ASEAN cooperationduring a meeting between foreign ministers from ASEAN and China in Manila, thePhilippines on August 6.
Atthe meeting, the two sides expressed satisfaction with achievements in theirstrategic partnership during the last 15 years and agreed to deepen ties.
Inhis remarks at the event, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi congratulated ASEANon its 50th anniversary and expressed his delight at the bloc’sdevelopment, extending his best wishes for it in the next five decades.
Asan important regional organisation, ASEAN has become a major force in enhancingregional integration and maintaining regional peace and stability, Wang said.
ASEANhas always been a priority in China’s foreign diplomacy, he noted, adding thatChina has consistently supported ASEAN in taking a central role in regional cooperationand a bigger role in dealing with international issues.
AsASEAN and China will celebrate the 15th year of their strategicpartnership next year, Wang urged for actions to upgrade the partnership to ahigher level and build closer relations between the two sides.
Heoutlined a seven-point proposal on bilateral cooperation in the future whichfirstly suggested formulating a 2030 Vision for ASEAN-China StrategicPartnership as a blueprint. The second point is to synergise the Belt and RoadInitiative and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and further expand the cooperation’sscope.
Third,he suggested 2018 become ASEAN-China Year of Innovation, aiming to make use ofthe innovation-driven development of ASEAN and China, and to upgrade bilateral cooperation.
Healso proposed the two sides to fast-track implementation of the upgrade of theASEAN-China Free Trade Area and together protect global free trade.
Fifth,he called for the two sides to fully implement the ASEAN-China Joint Statementon Production Capacity Cooperation and foster each other’s industrialisation.
Additionally,Yi urged building new pillars for people-to-people exchanges and cooperation,ensuring the success of the ASEAN-China Tourism Cooperation Year and issuing ajoint statement on tourism cooperation.
Finally,he suggested accelerating negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership.
Fortheir parts, ASEAN foreign ministers voiced expectations that the two sideswill increase strategic collaboration in economy, trade, innovation,connectivity, tourism and more to improve their strategic partnership.
Theyalso welcomed the adoption of a framework for a Code of Conduct in the East Seaand looked forward to more consultation on the matter.-VNA
VNA
