China, Asean have deep unity – minister
BEIJING: The recent diplomatic interactions with Southeast Asian countries have enhanced unity between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and deepened the cooperation of regional anti-pandemic fight, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.
He made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua after holding talks last week with Luhut binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesian president’s special envoy, and Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, and wrapped up Friday his Southeast Asia tour, which has taken him to Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand and Singapore.
His first tour to Southeast Asian countries in the context of the normalization of epidemic prevention and control, Wang said, has first of all enhanced the unity between China and the Asean.
“We have exchanged views and reached a series of consensus on major issues, such as jointly responding to the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic and the evolving international situation, deepening bilateral relations, maintaining regional peace and stability, and improving the global governance system,” Wang said.
He noted that all parties should further enhance mutual trust and solidarity and continue to push forward the development of relations between China and Asean countries so as to bring them to higher levels.
Furthermore, cooperation on the fight against the pandemic has been deepened, Wang said.
It is agreed that East Asia has made outstanding achievements in combating against Covid-19, which comes from countries’ commitment to putting the people first, taking scientific epidemic prevention measures, sticking together and providing mutual assistance and support, Wang said.
All parties should improve the level of joint prevention and control against the pandemic, enhance the exchange of prevention and treatment experience, and strengthen cooperation in vaccine research and development, production and use, he added.
China, Wang said, will continue to help Asean countries to prevail over the pandemic, including providing necessary anti-epidemic materials, carrying out cooperation on vaccine, assisting the establishment of nucleic acid testing laboratories, supporting Asean in launching an anti-epidemic fund and establishing repositories for emergency medical supplies.
Third, the economic recovery in the post- pandemic era was promoted, Wang noted.
“All parties have spoken highly of China’s major anti-epidemic achievements and its progress in the resumption of work and production, and they look forward to and believe that China will continue to be the main engine driving global economic recovery,” Wang said.
They all hope to take the opportunity of China’s “dual circulation” development pattern and dock China’s belt and Road Initiative with their own countries’ development strategies, so as to embark on the fast track of post-pandemic economic recovery as soon as possible, he said.
The fourth is that the visits have strengthened regional peace and stability, said Wang.