China pledges to cooperate with ASEAN to implement DOC
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| Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei. (Photo: AP) |
China has pledged to make joint efforts with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to safeguard regional peace and stability after the bloc issued a six-point statement on the East Sea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters on Friday that the country is willing to work together with ASEAN to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea comprehensively and effectively.
In a related development, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman and his Filipino counterpart, Albert Del Rosario held talks in Manila where they declared support to the ASEAN’s 6-point principles on the East Sea. The two Ministers discussed orientations of ASEAN members following the just-concluded Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cambodia. They also agreed that the bloc needs to increase cooperation to reach the goal to build an ASEAN community by 2015 and more solidarity and readiness to contribute to international forums.