Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has proposed three principles for the future development of the East Asia Summit (EAS).

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi answers reporters' queries (Source: Reuters)

He made the proposal in a speech at the 8^th EAS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Singapore on 4 August within the framework of the 51^st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 51).

According to China’s Xinhua news agency, the first principle proposed by Wang is centering on East Asia. He said East Asia has already established a regional cooperation framework with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the center and EAS an important component.

In the future, EAS countries should uphold the spirit of mutual respect, consensus-building, openness and inclusiveness, continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific and East Asia, and safeguard the central role of ASEAN in regional cooperation, he said.

The second principle is striking a balance between socio-economic development and politico-security cooperation. Wang said politico-security cooperation should aim at providing a peaceful and stable environment for the development and forging a regional security framework which accords with the actual circumstances of the region and meets the needs of all parties.

The third principle is coordinating strategic communication and pragmatic cooperation. While engaging in strategic communication on global and regional issues of common concern, all parties should make concerted efforts to push forward regional cooperation in vital areas, so as to provide solid support for EAS development.

The eight EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting drew the participation of foreign ministers from 10 ASEAN countries, the US, India, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the Republic of Korea. The Vietnamese delegation to the event was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

At the meeting, the delegates agreed that maritime cooperation will be one of the main focuses of EAS countries in the coming time.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the ministers shared concerns over militarisation and complicated developments in the East Sea over the past time, urging parties involved to increase dialogue on the basis of respect for international law.

They also voiced their support for peace, stability and denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula and applauded the positive outcomes of the recent inter-Korea and US-DPRK Summits.

(Source: VNA)