China and ASEAN see need for talks<\/p>\n
BUKITTINGGI, West Sumatra (AFP): China and the seven-member
\nAssociation of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on the
\nneed for dialogue to lessen tensions in the region, officials
\nsaid here yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"It must be acknowledged that tensions exist in the region due
\nto long-standing disputes,\" Izhar Ibrahim, the director general
\nof political affairs at the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Izhar, who is co-chair of the two-day meeting, was addressing
\nthe opening session of this second consultation between China and
\nASEAN.<\/p>\n
He warned that these disputes, if not properly managed, could
\nerupt into open conflict threatening regional peace and security,
\nand said dialogue on political and security matters should be
\nfostered in the region.<\/p>\n
The head of the Chinese delegation, Vice Foreign Minister Tang
\nJia Xuan, called on China and ASEAN \"to discuss our common
\nconcerns with sincerity and open-mindedness.\"<\/p>\n
Beijing, Tang said, attached great importance to its ties with
\nASEAN, which groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam. He pledged to discuss issues of
\n\"common concern,\" although he provided no details.<\/p>\n
Several ASEAN countries and other states in the region have
\noverlapping territorial claims to the Spratly and Paracel islands
\nin the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
Izhar told the meeting that the current situation in the
\nregion was \"relatively stable and tranquil,\" and attributed it to
\nthe practice of cultivating dialogue, consensus and cooperation
\namong states.<\/p>\n
Officials said that the first day of talks would include a
\nreview of developments in China and ASEAN as well as a review of
\nrelations between the regional organization and China.<\/p>\n
The consultation will also address Asian security issues,
\nincluding ASEAN's South East Asian Nuclear Free Zone, Indonesian
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
Discussions on the South China Sea territorial disputes,
\nalthough not formally scheduled, may also take place. In
\naddition, participants may consider Beijing's stated intent to
\nbecome one of ASEAN's dialogue partners.<\/p>\n
ASEAN's current main dialogue partners are Australia, Canada,
\nthe European Union, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
Before the meeting opened, Ibrahim said ASEAN senior officials
\nhad agreed to make China a main dialogue partner. He said it was
\nnow up to the ministers to decide.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-and-asean-see-need-for-talks-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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