SCIO briefing on 'China's Policies on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation'
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 12, 2017
China News Service:
Media reports say the Philippine foreign minister and vice foreign minister both said recently that the Philippines would not bring the arbitration case concerning the South China Sea before the ASEAN meeting this year, when it is the rotating chair of the organization. What can you say on that?
Liu Zhenmin:
China has a clear and consistent position on this issue. We are pleased to see the statement of the Philippine foreign ministry. As a matter of fact, China and the Philippines have had a smooth communication on this issue since President Duterte took office. We always believe the South China Sea issue is between China and some ASEAN countries, not the entire ASEAN. And this is a consensus reached between China and ASEAN, as well as being something on which China insists. China will continue to negotiate and talk with the related countries to resolve conflicts. Meanwhile, we will continue collaborating with ASEAN countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN, and the Philippines is taking the chair in rotation. China will support it in fulfilling its duties in this regard, and also discuss with it ways to enhance cooperation between China andASEAN in order to focus on development and cooperation and handle delicate issues. Last year was the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the dialogue process between China and ASEAN, and, from this year on, our relations will enter a second 25 years. We hope the relations between China and ASEAN will become ever closer in the next 25 years. A leader of a certain ASEAN country said a couple of years ago that he hoped an East Asia economic community could be built by 2020. This is an objective of both ASEAN and China. Closer cooperation between us is bound to make more contribution to the cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, including the economy and security.
Hu Kaihong:
Today's press conference ends here. Thank you, minister Liu. Thank you everyone.
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