Australia 'foolish' to follow US policy in South China Sea: former Australian FM

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Australia has been "foolish" to maintain the same position as the US on the South China Sea disputes, Australian former Foreign Minister Bob Carr said during the Sixth World Peace Forum in Beijing on Sunday.

Carr expressed belief that Australia has traditionally "a fear of abandonment" by its US ally, noting that under the uncertainty that has come to accompany president Donald Trump's policies, Australia needs to focus on its own interests rather than following Washington's steps.

Bob Carr, former Foreign Minister of Australia in the 6th World Peace Forum in Beijing, June 25, 2017. /VCG Photo

Carr told the media that Australia should seriously consider developing bilateral ties with China.

"We (Australia) should establish a stronger partnership with China, which is why I established the Australia-China Relations Institute in order to put more efforts on developing the bilateral relations between these two countries," the former official said.

Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia, giving keynote speech at the 6th World Peace Forum in Beijing, June 24, 2017. /CGTN Photo

In terms of regional development and cooperation, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that common institutions, such as ASEAN and the East Asia Summit, should involve all stakeholders and strengthen their roles in building trust and avoiding conflicts.

Hamid Karzai, former President of Afghanistan giving keynote speech at the 6th World Peace Forum in Beijing, June 24, 2017. /CGTN Photo

Despite the presence of US troops in Afghanistan, the country has been plagued by terrorism for decades and saw the emergence of Islamic extremism in the beginning of 2014. In a fresh effort to check the growth of instability, Afghanistan now wishes the Shanghai Cooperation Organization shoulder more responsibility towards peace and security in the region.

Security is the cornerstone of development, according to Zhang Yesui, Executive Vice Minister of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As the champion of peaceful development, China stresses that all nations are equal members in the international society and differences ought to be addressed through dialogue.

Zhang Yesui, Executive Vice Minister of China's Foreign Affairs Ministry giving lunch speech at the 6th World Peace Forum in Beijing, June 24, 2017. /CGTN Photo

CGTN's Xu Mengqi said that the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank constituted good examples of development, as they're based on mutual respect and benefits.

(With contribution from CGTN's Xu Mengqi)

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