Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has affirmed China's consistent stance of attaching importance to ASEAN's central role and the country’s support for the bloc's efforts in building its Community.

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (centre) poses for a photo with ambassadors of ASEAN member nations to China (Photo: VNA)

China supports ASEAN to maintain its positive role in promoting cooperation in regional connectivity and innovation, Wang said at a meeting with ambassadors of ASEAN member nations to China in Beijing on 23 October.

Wang expressed his respect for annual meetings with ambassadors of ASEAN countries in Beijing to enhance trust and practical exchange, thus further promoting the ASEAN-China strategic partnership.

He suggested the two sides work closely to lift the strategic partnership to a new height, towards building a vision for their relations in the next 15 years.

ASEAN and China are celebrating the 15^th anniversary of their strategic partnership in 2018.

At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi highly valued the development of ASEAN-China strategic partnership in terms of politics-security, economy, culture-society and people-to-people exchange.

He affirmed that Viet Nam will work closely with Singapore – the current ASEAN Chair, other ASEAN member nations and partners to well prepare for the 33^rd ASEAN Summit and relevant meetings later this year.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Ambassador Khoi stressed the need to maintain and promote peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS); and promote negotiations between ASEAN and China to soon adopt a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

(Source: VNA)