BEIJING: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan and South Korea should adhere to openness and cooperation, and accelerate the process of regional integration, senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said.
When attending the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs said the APT is one of the most mature mechanisms for East Asia regional cooperation, and the countries should strengthen their cooperation and jointly meet challenges.
Wang called on the regional countries to push for economic recovery, adding China has provided support for economic and technological cooperation under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and helped ASEAN countries enhance their abilities to implement the RCEP free trade deal.
He urged the regional countries to promote sustainable development, saying China has provided medical supplies as well as help for emergency rice reserves and poverty alleviation cooperation.
He also appealed to resume personnel exchanges, calling for an increase in commercial flights between countries in the region and an orderly resumption of inbound tourism.
To construct an East Asian community and inject more strength into regional and world economic recovery and growth, Wang put forward three proposals for the next stage of APT cooperation.
First, he called to accelerate the process of regional integration. Taking the full entry into force of RCEP as an opportunity, Wang called for supporting Hong Kong’s accession to RCEP as one of the first batch of members. He also said China supports the construction of a stable, smooth and comparative advantage-based regional production and supply chain system.
Second, he urged to keep improving the effectiveness of crisis response, adding China will continue to donate funds to the APT Emergency Rice Reserve mechanism, strengthen the ASEAN food security information system and better safeguard regional food security. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
