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ASEAN FM meeting concludes with confidence in Community building

Xinhua, August 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

The 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings concluded here Thursday with confidence in completing the building of the ASEAN Community by the year-end.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said at the closing ceremony of the AMM that Malaysia, chair of ASEAN this year, is confident that the region will be able to establish the ASEAN Community by the end of 2015.

At the meeting, ASEAN foreign ministers deliberated on the progress made in ASEAN's Community building efforts.

ASEAN is on course to be the world's fourth largest economy in 2050, according to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the AMM 's opening ceremony.

ASEAN foreign ministers also held meetings with their counterparts from dialogue partners including China and the United States at a series of related meetings including the Post Ministerial Conferences, 16th ASEAN Plus Tree Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the 5th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting and 22nd ASEAN Regional Forum.

The need to intensify cooperation, especially in boosting connectivity and addressing non-traditional security issues, have been strengthened at the meetings.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi put forward 10 new proposals on further deepening China-ASEAN cooperation, including boosting regional connectivity and cooperating in industrial production.

The AMM meeting have also discussed matters relating to the South China Sea, and foreign ministers of the 10 Southeast Asian countries pledged to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.

They highlighted the importance of full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the need to enhance the consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC).

Wang Yi, at his meeting with ASEAN foreign ministers, also proposed three initiatives to maintain peace and stability of the South China Sea, calling for all parties in and outside the region to support the efforts made by China and ASEAN countries.

China and ASEAN nations are capable of managing and controlling differences, building consensus, maintaining stability and safeguarding peace in the region, according to Wang.

ASEAN, established in 1967, comprises 10 Southeast Asian countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Endi