Chinese FM urges against external influences in South China Sea

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02:48

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday that the situation in the South China Sea has remained calm and it will remain so as long as external countries refrain from making waves.

Wang made the statement during a press conference after his meeting with Lim Jock Hoi, the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"The Secretary General and I did not discuss the South China Sea because we know the situation there is calm. We agree that thanks to the efforts of all sides, issues in the marine region have been brought back on the right track for dialogue and consultation for the parties involved," said Wang.

"A new round of COC (Code of Conduct) consultations will be held in China at the end of this month. We are confident of making further progress through the signing of the COC," added Wang.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) speaks during a joint briefing with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi before a meeting in Beijing, China, June 12, 2018. /MOFA Photo

Lim's visit to China comes as both sides welcome the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership. In order to celebrate that milestone, the two sides agree to expand cooperation in areas of trade, culture and innovation.

While speaking to the press, the Chinese foreign minister suggested that the two were looking well into the future in this regard.

"First and foremost, China and ASEAN will formulate and sign a Vision 2030 Strategic Partnership Plan to set a mid- to long-term goal to further our cooperation. Secondly, we are looking to deepen our cooperation in innovation," noted Wang.

"This year is the China-ASEAN Innovation Year and we believe through innovation, we will find new opportunities to expand cooperation", Wang said. "And lastly, we will increase our efforts to develop China's Belt and Road Initiative and ASEAN's Connectivity 2025 plan.

"We believe these projects will generate new growth prospects and cooperation for all sides."

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi talks with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi in Beijing, China, June 12, 2018. /MOFA Photo

The foreign minister added that China was the first country to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with ASEAN, a peace accord involving Southeast Asian nations.

He said China was also the first country to establish a strategic partnership and sign a Free Trade Agreement (FDA) with ASEAN, all moves that have helped to improve their partnership, drive regional integration and expand ASEAN's international influence.

"China is a major trading partner as well as a major investment partner; we would like to see these to be further enhanced with the implementation of ASEAN-China FDA. We're looking at how we can further our cooperation especially in people-to-people relationship, becasue this is an important area that will further sustain our cooperation," said Lim.

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN was worth half a trillion US dollars last year, making the ten-nation bloc China's fastest growing trade partner.

China's exports to ASEAN countries reached 279.1 billion US dollars in 2017, up 9 percent over 2016, while imports rose by 20 percent year-on-year to 235.7 billion US dollars.