BEIJING, Feb 20 (Bernama-Xinhua) – China supports Malaysia's work as the rotating chair of ASEAN and is willing to work with Malaysia to enhance regional cooperation and achieve fruitful outcomes, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday, Xinhua reported.
According to media reports, Malaysia's Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, recently said China had been ASEAN's most significant economic partner for years and that this relationship would continue to be a cornerstone of regional stability.
He also pledged to enhance cooperation with China to "develop robust economic frameworks and secure a more equitable and sustainable future for all."
On disputes in the South China Sea, Anwar said there should be greater multilateral diplomatic progress, with the aspiration that consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea should be concluded sooner rather than later.
In response to a query regarding Anwar's remarks, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that under the strategic guidance of leaders from China and ASEAN countries, the concept of a China-ASEAN community of shared future had taken root, with significant progress made in building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful, and amicable home.
Guo said that China and ASEAN had been each other's largest trading partners for consecutive years, with the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations substantially concluded. The visa-free arrangement between China and countries like Malaysia has produced remarkable results, and the "Lancang-Mekong visa" policy was officially implemented, he added.
"China and ASEAN have consistently been key forces in safeguarding peace and promoting development in the Asia-Pacific region," said Guo.
He expressed China's support for Malaysia's work as the rotating chair of ASEAN, adding that China is willing to work with Malaysia to enhance cooperation between China and ASEAN in areas such as trade and economic cooperation, digital transformation, industrial and supply chains, green development, and people-to-people exchanges.
Efforts will be made to promote the mutual advancement and synergy of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the three global initiatives, and the construction of the ASEAN Community, contributing to more fruitful outcomes in regional cooperation, Guo added.
On disputes in the South China Sea, Guo said China and ASEAN countries had gained valuable experience in developing bilateral relations by adhering to the Asian approach of amicable consultation to properly handle and resolve differences.
China remains committed to resolving relevant disputes in the South China Sea through negotiations and consultations with the directly involved countries, Guo said.
He added that China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, actively advance consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and strive for an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct, thereby jointly maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
-- BERNAMA-XINHUA
