2016年CRI China, ASEAN eye closer cooperation: Chinese FM

Speaking to the media after the meetings, the Chinese Foreign Minister said that China and ASEAN members have exerted joint 1 efforts to make the ministerial meetings focus on dialogue and cooperation.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relationship.

Wang Yi said both sides have agreed to build a closer community of common destiny.

"We recalled the achievements over the past 25 years in developing bilateral 2 relations, summed up experience and outlined a blueprint 3 for future development. The past 25 years is a period when China-ASEAN relation to grew up, while the coming 25 years will see that relationship mature. We can see that the two sides have established a comprehensive system for cooperation in various areas. In the future, we'll build a closer community of common destiny."

Wang said China and the 10 ASEAN members agreed to strive to boost cultural and people-to-people exchanges as the third pillar for their cooperation in addition to political-security dialogue and trade and economic ties.

Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith is upbeat about future cooperation between China and the south Asian regional bloc 4.

"This year marks the 25th anniversary of the China-ASEAN relations.... deep cooperation in various areas."

During the meetings, the foreign ministers also discussed differences, such as the South China Sea issue.

But as Wang Yi said, this year's meeting has seen a different situation.

"In recent years, the South China Sea issue has become an annual topic at the ASEAN meetings. It's not strange. But this year, China and the ASEAN nations have reached an important consensus 5 in Laos, they agreed to return to the right track of solving their disputes through dialogue and consultation 6. ASEAN foreign ministers said, the bloc, as a whole, won't take sides on the so-called arbitration 7 case and that it's a problem concerning only the Philippines and China."

During their meeting, China and the ASEAN nations issued a joint statement, promising 8 full and effective implementation 9 of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which stipulates 10 that disputes should be resolved peacefully through negotiation 11 between the parties directly concerned.

They also vowed 12 to work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Myanmar's director general for ASEAN Affairs, Aung Lynn, said the bilateral dispute should not hamper 13 the relations between China and ASEAN.

"We believe that...closer relationship between ASEAN and China."

During his time in Laos, Wang Yi also attended the ASEAN Plus Three meeting, the East Asia Summit and the 27-member ASEAN Regional Forum 14.

The top Chinese diplomat 15 said when meeting with his counterparts from ASEAN countries, they also discussed the preparation for a commemorative summit marking the 25th anniversary for China-ASEAN dialogue relationship in September.

For CRI, this is Liu Yuanhui.