ASEAN, China to iron out differences

JAKARTA (JP): ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Ajit Singh yesterday urged a peaceful resolution to differences in disputes between China and the seven-member ASEAN.

In his opening speech at the inaugural meeting of the ASEAN- China Joint Cooperation Committee in Beijing yesterday, Ajit said various disputes should be settled in a "peaceful and friendly way... paying due regard to our feelings and sensitivities."

"We may have our differences... (but) we should be able to settle these differences in such a way that they do not escalate and over shadow our larger interests for peace and well being," Ajit said in a copy of his speech received here yesterday.

While Ajit made no reference to the South China Sea, China and four ASEAN members are embroiled in overlapping claim disputes in the potentially resource rich area. (mds)