CCTV9英语新闻：China, ASEAN have common interests

Senior officials from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have wrapped up two days of talks in Singapore. China's Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told reporters after the meeting that the discussion was candid and in-depth. He said China and ASEAN have far more common interests than differences.

 

A success - both hosts for the 22nd China-ASEAN Senior Officials Consultation believed they had in-depth and candid discussion on some sticky issues during the two-day closed door meeting.

 

"The meeting over the last two days has reinforced the point that ASEAN’s partnership with China is substantive, mutually-beneficious and positive. We reaffirmed the commitment of all parties to fully and effectively implement the DOC to better manage the increase tension in the South China Sea," Chee Wee Kiong, permanent secretary of Foreign Affairs of Singapore

 

Tension is mounting in South China Sea over territorial and maritime disputes. The Philippines has taken a case against China to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. The court’s ruling is due in late May or early June. Chinese vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said China does not participate nor accept the arbitration.

 

"For China we decided three years ago decide not to participate, nor accept the arbitration. From the very beginning, this arbitration is brought about not in good faith, not intended to solve any disputes and gradually our Philippine colleagues are telling us they did not intent to solve disputes, they intended to deny the legitimate interests and the rights of China in the South China Sea, and they also want to legitimate their illegal occupation in the Nan Shan Island and legitimate their rights in South China Sea," China's Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said.

 

South China Sea is of course the hot topic of the meeting. Chinese Vice Foreign (you have already mentioned his designation in the script. So leave the designation out) Minister Liu Zhenmin said the South China Sea dispute is not an issue between China and ASEAN as a whole, rather an issue between China and some ASEAN countries. Therefore, it should not affect the relation between China and the region. He also said there are far more common interests than difference in this strategic dialogue relation.

 

This year marks the 25 anniversary of dialogue relation between China and ASEAN. China is ASEAN’s largest trading partner for six consecutive years since the bilateral free trade agreement was launched in 2010. In 2014, bilateral trade was over 480 billion dollars and total Chinese FDI in ASEAN was about 400 billion.