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News Analysis: Community building, regional cooperation high on agenda of ASEAN ministerial meetings

Xinhua, August 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Foreign ministers from 10 ASEAN countries and their dialogue partners are gathering here for the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM), which is set to open on Tuesday, as well as a series of related regional meetings.

The meeting has attracted particular attention as the ten- nation bloc is in the final spurt to realize the goal of establishing an ASEAN Community, which involves a plan to create a common economic, political-security and socio-cultural region by the end of this year.

ASEAN foreign ministers will discuss mainly the establishment of ASEAN Community and progress on ASEAN Community's Post-2015 Vision at the annual meeting, according to Malaysia's foreign ministry.

Following the AMM is a series of related meetings, namely the Post Ministerial Conferences, the 16th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the 5th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting and the 22nd ASEAN Regional Forum.

Foreign ministers of the bloc's dialogue partners, including China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, will hold meetings with their ASEAN counterparts to discuss regional issues and promote ties.

Xu Bu, the Chinese ambassador to ASEAN, regarded the meetings as an important platform for regional cooperation in trade and economics, communication, food security and non-traditional security in East Asia.

As one of ASEAN's important dialogue partners, the establishment of ASEAN Community will further facilitate China- ASEAN ties with strengthened political, economic and cultural unity, said Xu.

The community building will particularly provide more opportunities in investment and infrastructure construction cooperation, as ASEAN states are expected to enhance communication and transportation within the community, said Xu in a recent interview.

In face of uncertain global economic prospect and increasing non-traditional security issues, East Asian nations share the common priorities to address challenges, maintain economic growth and improve people's livelihood, he said.

Other topics which are to be touched include the South China Sea issue, as parties involved in the issue are expected to take part in the meetings.

China has maintained a positive momentum of consultation between China and ASEAN, and the Chinese government has the confidence and ability to work together with ASEAN to properly address the South China Sea issue, said Ambassador Xu Bu.

ASEAN, established in 1967, comprises 10 Southeast Asian countries -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN this year is themed "Our People, Our Community, Our Vision." Endi