ASEAN, China to hold dialog

ASEAN, China to hold dialog

MANILA (AFP): China and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will this year start regular dialogs on regional peace, stability, conflict prevention and economic ties, a senior Foreign Department official said yesterday.

The first of meeting has been scheduled for April 2 to 4 in Xuzhou, China. Foreign ministry officials from China and ASEAN will attend, said Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rodolfo Severino.

No date has been set for the other meetings.

Although an agenda has yet to be set, Severino said the meetings would be an opportunity for ASEAN -- grouping Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore -- and China to gain a better understanding of each other.

Despite its attraction because of its amazing economic growth, China is embroiled in a dispute with five other Asian nations regarding sovereignty over the potentially oil-rich Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.