ASEAN, China adopt guidelines for declaration

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This was reached at the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under the co-chairmanship of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jie Chi in Bali, Indonesia, on July 21.

At the meeting, the FMs confirmed their commitment to fully and effectively implement the DOC for peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the region.

They welcomed the restoration of the ASEAN-China senior officials’ meeting and the finalisation of guidelines for the implementation of the DOC, considering them meaningful results and a start for the goal of building trust and accelerating the implementation of the DOC.

The FMs proposed both sides actively implement an action programme for the implementation of the Joint Declaration on the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity for the period of 2011-2015, especially 11 prioritised cooperative fields, namely agriculture, information technology and communications, human resource development, the development of the Mekong River basin, investment, energy, transport, culture, health care, tourism and environment.

They also proposed to enhance mutual assistance to effectively implement the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) and the master plan on ASEAN Connectivity, as well as consider the continuation of implementing a plan of action for the period of 2011-2015 that was adopted at the 13 th ASEAN-China Summit in Hanoi in 2010.

The FMs spoke highly of and agreed to carry out activities to mark the 20th founding anniversary of the ASEAN-China strategic partnership with the ASEAN-China Centre to be put into operation, the implementation of the Joint Declaration adopted at the third ASEAN-China Young Entrepreneurs Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia, from April 19-23 and the ASEAN-China Young Leaders Forum held in Cambodia from June 25-27.