ASEAN-China statement calls for effective implementation of DOC on South China Sea
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the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) and China issued a statement here Wednesday,calling for full and effective implementation of the Declaration onthe Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
The two sides held the 19thASEAN-China Summit and commemorated the 25th anniversary ofASEAN-China dialogue relations in the Lao capital. In a chairman'sstatement issued at the summit, the two sides underlined theimportance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom ofnavigation in, and overflight above, the South China Sea.
"We welcomed the recent adoption ofthe Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member Statesand China on the Full and Effective Implementation of theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).We stressed the importance of the full and effective implementationof the DOC in its entirety," read the document.
The statement said that ASEAN-Chinarelations are among the most substantial and dynamic, bringingmutual benefit and contributing to peace, stability and prosperityin the region. The ASEAN leaders appreciated China's commitment tosupport ASEAN community-building toward the realization of thevisions and goals set forth in the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 aswell as China's continued support for ASEAN centrality in theevolving regional architecture through ASEAN-led processes.
It said the leaders welcomed thesignificant progress of ASEAN-China cooperation made over the past25 years. Meanwhile, ASEAN leaders noted China's initiatives suchas the "Belt and Road" and the 2+7 cooperation framework forfurther enhancing ASEAN-China relations.
ASEAN leaders were pleased to notethat ASEAN-China economic relations have maintained their strongmomentum.
The statement said the leaderswelcomed the designation of 2017 as the ASEAN-China Year of TourismCooperation and looked forward to enhancing cooperation andactivities with a view to boosting two-way tourist visits andpromoting greater people-to-people exchanges. Endit