Archive for ‘Code of Conduct (COC)’

  |  
23/01/2020

Chinese state councilor meets Thai FM

CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YI-THAI FM-MEETING (CN)

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai here on Thursday.

China is willing to work with Thailand to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and push their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to reach a new stage, Wang said.

The South China Sea issue concerns China’s sovereign rights and interests, said Wang, adding that China stands ready to manage and control differences with countries concerned through bilateral dialogue to enhance mutual trust and promote cooperation.

Don expressed the hope that the consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea will be accelerated and believed that regional countries are capable of controlling the situation in the South China Sea.

The two sides also exchanged views on the drought in the Mekong River basin.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Code of Conduct (COC), Mekong River basin, South China Sea, South China Sea issue, Thailand, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

04/11/2019

Li urges China, ASEAN to uphold multilateralism, free trade

THAILAND-BANGKOK-LI KEQIANG-CHINA-ASEAN LEADERS' MEETING

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang addresses the 22nd China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders’ meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BANGKOK, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday called on China and ASEAN to uphold multilateralism and free trade, resist risks and realize common development at the 22nd China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders’ meeting in Bangkok.

Since China and ASEAN established dialogue relations, they have brought benefits to each other and the wider region, Li said, adding that China always supports ASEAN’s central role in East Asian cooperation.

Noting that the mounting downward pressure on the global economy brings new severe challenges, Li said China and ASEAN countries should jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, withstand risks and realize common development.

The premier said China and ASEAN countries should stick to the principle of shared benefits and win-win outcomes, and speed up the work to upgrade economic and trade cooperation.

He called for an early conclusion of the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) so as to lay the foundation for East Asia’s economic integration, and the implementation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Upgrade Protocol to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

Li said China and ASEAN countries should enhance strategic mutual trust and safeguard peace and stability in the region.

The Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea is an upgraded version of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Last year, China proposed that all parties should try to finish the COC talks in three years. The first reading of the single draft negotiating text of the COC in the South China Sea has been completed ahead of schedule, and the second reading has been launched.

Li said he hopes all sides will actively carry forward the consultations according to the previously agreed timetable, meet each other halfway, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The premier also said China and ASEAN countries need to carry forward their friendship from generation to generation, and stay ready to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges in such areas as media, health, education and tourism.

China is willing to train 1,000 administrative health staff and technical professionals in the following three years for ASEAN and will support projects such as the China-ASEAN Young Leaders Scholarship, said the premier.

Stressing that China will unswervingly pursue the path of peaceful development and an opening-up strategy of mutual benefit, Li said China is willing to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with the development strategies of ASEAN as a whole and its members as well.

He urged to accelerate the construction of the existing economic corridors, promote infrastructure connectivity cooperation, as well as support the building of the Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area.

Li encouraged innovation cooperation in the areas including digital economy, artificial intelligence, big data and cyber security, and the establishment of a China-ASEAN partnership on blue economy to enhance maritime exchanges and cooperation.

Thailand’s Prime Minister, also the rotating chair of ASEAN, Prayut Chan-o-cha, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen attended the meeting. Li and Prayut co-chaired the meeting.

At the meeting, ASEAN leaders expressed congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, saying that the ASEAN-China partnership is the most dynamic one in all the partnerships ASEAN has forged.

Speaking highly of the new cooperation progress over the past year, the leaders said their countries would like to take an active role in building the Belt and Road, expand cooperation in areas of inter-connectivity, science and technology innovation, e-commerce, smart cities and blue economy, and increase two-way investment.

They also expressed the hope that the ASEAN-China trade volume can exceed 1 trillion U.S. dollars at an early date.

The leaders also applauded the new progress made in the COC negotiation, saying that their countries would like to maintain the momentum and advance the process.

During the meeting, China and ASEAN agreed to make an action plan to implement The Joint Declaration on China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity (2021-2025), issued statements on the Belt and Road Initiative, smart cities and media exchanges, and announced that the year 2020 will be the year of China-ASEAN digital economy cooperation.

Li arrived in Bangkok late on Saturday for an official visit to Thailand and a series of events including the 22nd China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders’ meeting, the 22nd ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) leaders’ meeting, and the 14th East Asia Summit.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in 14th East Asia Summit (EAS), 22nd ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting, 22nd China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), ASEAN, Bangkok, Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, China alert, China-ASEAN Young Leaders Scholarship, Chinese premier Li Keqiang, Code of Conduct (COC), cultural exchanges, Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), East Asian cooperation, education, free trade, Health, media, multilateralism, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), South China Sea, Tourism, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

31/08/2019

China, Philippines common interests “far greater” than differences: Premier Li

CHINA-BEIJING-LI KEQIANG-PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT-MEETING (CN)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 30, 2019. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday that the common interests between China and the Philippines far outweigh the differences in his meeting with visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Li said that China is willing to cooperate with the Philippines on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and seek better synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippines’ “Build, Build, Build” program, so as to promote sustained, stable and healthy development of bilateral relations and cooperation.

Li said that the current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable and the countries in the region are living in peace.

China always acts with the greatest sincerity and is willing to work together with the Philippines and ASEAN countries to achieve the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea in the period when the Philippines serves as a coordinating country for China-ASEAN relations, said Li.

Li also expected joint efforts to promote offshore oil and gas development, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and the region.

Duterte said the Philippine side is willing to further expand exchanges and cooperation with China in such fields as the economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges, so as to promote bilateral ties and secure the two peoples concrete benefits.

Duterte said the Philippines will never confront China.

On the South China Sea issue, Duterte said Western countries are not COC negotiators and should not hinder the efforts of regional countries in this regard.

He said as the Philippines now is fulfilling its responsibilities as a coordinating country for China-ASEAN relations, the Philippine side will work with China and ASEAN countries to actively promote the adoption of the COC during his term of office.

Duterte also expressed the willingness to push forward common development with China on offshore oil and gas.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in "Build, Build, Build" program, asean countries, Belt and Road Initiative, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China alert, China-ASEAN relations, Chinese premier Li Keqiang, Code of Conduct (COC), common interests, differences, Philippine President, Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, South China Sea, Uncategorized, Western countries | Leave a Comment »

22/06/2019

Southeast Asian leaders open summit in Bangkok

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Southeast Asian leaders opened a two-day summit in Bangkok on Saturday, though it was unclear what progress their 10-country group could make on disputes in the South China Sea and the plight of ethnic Rohingya fleeing Myanmar.

Formed more than half a century ago, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has historically struggled with challenges facing the region because it works only by consensus and is reluctant to become involved in any matter regarded as internal to a member state.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was making his debut as a civilian leader representing current chair Thailand, after a general election in March that opposition parties say was designed to ensure his victory five years after the former army chief seized power in a 2014 coup.

Officials are expected to discuss a Code of Conduct (COC) for negotiations over the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest waterways and a potential flashpoint, as it is claimed by several ASEAN members as well as China.

However, it was unlikely much progress would be made, though member nations might discuss the June 9 collision of a Philippine boat and a Chinese fishing vessel.

“It is encouraging to see that the ASEAN-China talks on the COC have continued,” said Marty Natalegawa, former foreign minister of Indonesia.

“However, there is real risk that developments on the ground – or more precisely at sea – are far outpacing the COC’s progress thereby possibly rendering it irrelevant.”

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted China’s proposal to jointly investigate allegations that a Chinese fishing vessel abandoned 22 Filipinos after it sank their boat in the South China Sea, his spokesman said on Saturday.

Rights groups have also called on ASEAN leaders to rethink support for plans to repatriate Rohingya Muslims who have fled member state Myanmar, where activists say returnees could face discrimination and persecution.

More than 700,000 Rohingya crossed into Bangladesh in 2017, according to U.N. agencies, after a crackdown by Myanmar’s military sparked by Rohingya insurgent attacks on the security forces.

However, it is unlikely that there will be any criticism of Myanmar at the summit over the Rohingya, said Prapat Thepchatree, a political science professor at Thailand’s Thammasat University said.

“This issue has been a very sensitive one for ASEAN,” he said.

Host country Thailand deployed about 10,000 security forces around Bangkok for the summit, mindful of a decade ago when Thailand last hosted an ASEAN summit and dozens of protesters loyal to military-ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra forced their way into the meeting venue.

But on Saturday morning, only a small group of people had planned to stage a protest to call Prayuth’s election the product of a rigged system.

The group, called Citizens Wanting Elections, was stopped by police before it could reach a meeting point near the summit venue. The group later released a statement welcoming visiting leaders but criticising Prayuth.

“The individual who serves as President of ASEAN, who welcomes everyone today, did not come from a clean and fair election,” the letter said.

Source: Reuters

Posted in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Bangkok, Bangladesh, Chinese fishing vessel, Citizens Wanting Elections, Code of Conduct (COC), foreign minister, Indonesia, Marty Natalegawa, Myanmar, Philippine boat, Philippine President, political science professor, Prayuth Chan-ocha, Rodrigo Duterte, Rohingya, South China Sea, Southeast Asian leaders, summit, Thai Prime Minister, Thailand, Thammasat University, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

03/06/2019

Where there are threats, there are defenses: Chinese defense minister on South China Sea

SINGAPORE, June 2 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said here on Sunday that China’s construction on its South China Sea islands and reefs is its legitimate right and is purely defensive in nature.

“The current situation in the South China Sea is improving towards greater stability. It is attributed to the common efforts of the countries in the region,” Wei said. “However, there are always people trying to rake in profits by stirring up troubles in the region.”

He said over 100,000 ships sail through the South China Sea each year, and “none has been threatened.”

However, in recent years, some countries outside the region come to the South China Sea to flex muscles, in the name of freedom of navigation. “The large-scale force projection and offensive operations in the region are the most serious destabilizing and uncertain factors in the South China Sea,” he said.

If there is chaos in the South China Sea, the regional countries are the ones who will bear the brunt, and China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have made progress in negotiating the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, he added.

Wei noted that China’s construction on its South China Sea islands and reefs is legitimate and defensive in nature. “It is the legitimate right of a sovereign state to carry out construction on its own territory. China built limited defense facilities on the islands and reefs for self-defense,” he said.

“Where there are threats, there are defenses. In the face of heavily armed warships and military aircraft, how can we stay impervious and not build some defense facilities?” he asked.

He also refuted the saying of “militarization” of China’s defensive construction on its South China Sea islands and reefs at the Q&A session. “Anyone who has some military sense would know it’s not militarization,” he said.

Wei is here to attend the 18th Shangri-La Dialogue from Friday to Sunday, and he gave a keynote speech on Sunday morning at a plenary session entitled “China and International Security Cooperation.”

Source: Xinhua

Posted in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chaos, Chinese State Councilor, Code of Conduct (COC), defense minister, freedom of navigation, International Security Cooperation, militarization, Shangri-La Dialogue, South China Sea Islands, Uncategorized, Wei Fenghe | Leave a Comment »

27/04/2019

Premier Li meets Vietnamese PM

(BRF)CHINA-BEIJING-LI KEQIANG-VIETNAMESE PM-MEETING (CN)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is here attending the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is here attending the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Li said China is willing to enhance high-level contacts with Vietnam, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and better align the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Vietnam’s “Two Corridors and One Economic Circle” plan.

China is willing to expand bilateral trade and achieve balanced and sustainable development in trade with Vietnam, and welcomes the entry of quality Vietnamese products into the Chinese market, Li said.

China supports Vietnam in assuming its role as the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2020, and is willing to work with Vietnam and other parties to steadily advance the consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, the premier said.

Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Vietnam actively supports the BRI and is willing to build greater synergy of the two countries’ development strategies.

Vietnam is willing to work with China in implementing the high-level consensus and safeguarding the long-term stability in the South China Sea, he said.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle", Association of Southeast Asian Nations, balanced and sustainable development, Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), bilateral trade, China alert, Chinese market, Chinese premier Li Keqiang, Code of Conduct (COC), Nguyen Xuan Phuc, South China Sea, Uncategorized, Vietnam, Vietnamese Prime Minister | Leave a Comment »

26/04/2019

Premier Li meets Philippine president

(BRF)CHINA-BEIJING-LI KEQIANG-PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT-MEETING (CN)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday met with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

China and the Philippines are neighbors facing each other across the sea, and their development and stability is closely related, Li said, adding that bilateral relations had achieved positive turnaround and consolidation, and had been progressing on the right track, after the joint efforts of the two sides over the past three years.

China is willing to see new achievements in the economic and social development of the Philippines, and align the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Philippines, he said.

Peace and stability in the South China Sea is in line with the common interests of China, the Philippines and other countries in the region, Li added.

China supports the Philippines in fulfilling its responsibilities as the country coordinator for China-ASEAN relations, and expects negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to be completed soon, Li said.

Li also expressed confidence that countries around the South China Sea will be able to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region with wisdom, adding that it is necessary to properly manage existing issues through dialogue and consultation, so as to realize common development.

Noting the contribution of the BRI to global prosperity and connectivity, Duterte said the Philippines is ready to deepen the cooperation with China under the BRI framework.

The Philippines will further improve its business environment, and welcomes more investments from Chinese companies, said the president.

Duterte said the Philippines will firmly make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, and is looking forward to working with other parties to conclude the negotiations on the COC as soon as possible.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Build, Build, Build, China alert, China-ASEAN relations, Chinese premier Li Keqiang, Code of Conduct (COC), Philippine President, Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, South China Sea, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

  |  
CCChang

Law of Unintended Consequences

continuously updated blog about China & India

ChiaHou's Book Reviews

continuously updated blog about China & India

What's wrong with the world; and its economy

continuously updated blog about China & India