BEIJING: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called on countries in the region to maintain their position in solving the South China Sea issue.
Wang made these remarks at a virtual symposium commemorating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea.
He called for unswervingly practicing the norms and propositions of the DOC, making the South China Sea “a sea of peace, a sea of friendship and a sea of cooperation.”
Representatives of the governments of China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed the DOC in Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in 2002. It is the first political document between China and the ASEAN countries on dealing with the South China Sea issue at the regional level. The South China Sea is not a “safari park” for countries outside the region or a “fighting arena” for major powers to compete in, Wang stressed at the seminar.
He said the regional countries should support all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of disputes, oppose words or actions that create tensions and provoke confrontation, and stand on the side of the peaceful aspirations of all peoples. Calling dialogue and consultation the fundamental path to resolving conflicts, Wang urged related parties to continuously promote dialogue as it is also the DOC’s spirit. Wang also called for deepening maritime cooperation, as the South China Sea is the common wealth of the countries in the region.
He said related parties should actively promote pragmatic cooperation in scientific research, environmental protection, search and rescue and other fields, and explore the joint development of resources for the betterment of regional countries and people.
–The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
