China stresses developing cooperation with ASEAN as diplomatic priority

China will continue to develop the cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a regional diplomatic priority, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Sunday. Speaking at a meeting of the foreign ministers of ASEAN and China in Brunei, Wang said the cooperation between the two sides had become the great driving force of East Asia's development and the indispensable pillar for regional stability and prosperity. He pointed out that a strong and prosperous ASEAN is in the interest of China. Highlighting the achievement made since the establishment of China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership ten years ago, foreign ministers from ten ASEAN countries and China agreed to enhance political mutual trust, strengthen cooperation in various fields, further enrich the strategic partnership and move China-ASEAN relationship to a higher level. Li Mingjiang, Assistant Professor at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said Wang's statement demonstrates China' s desire to push its relations with ASEAN towards a more positive direction. Both sides have agreed to further deepen ties in economy, trade, connectivity, among others, while committed in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. The ministers stressed the importance of full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the need to steadily move towards the conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) on the basis of consensus. ASEAN and China are scheduled to hold talks on the implementation of the DOC in September, during which all parties are expected to have in-depth exchange of views on the full and effective implementation of DOC as well as to have the official consultations on the COC within the framework of the implementation of the DOC, the two sides said in a joint statement. Meanwhile, Wang stressed that the 10+3 mechanism, which involve ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea, should serve as the main channel of cooperation in East Asia. Wang is in Brunei for the 46th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related conferences. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and senior diplomats of other ASEAN dialogue partners are expected to join the meetings on Monday.