皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app-ASEAN relations stand above disputes, leaders agree

President Xi Jinping reiterated on Friday 皇冠体育app's commitment to a negotiated settlement of disputes related to the South 皇冠体育app Sea, saying the country will not allow any factors to disturb the 皇冠体育app-ASEAN cooperation.

Xi said 皇冠体育app always undertakes to resolve disputes through friendly consultation and negotiation.

President Xi Jinping accompanies Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei during a welcoming ceremony in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. [Photo by Feng Yongbin / 皇冠体育app Daily]

"Prior to the resolution, 皇冠体育app is willing to enhance the dialogues and communication with ASEAN member countries to jointly maintain the peace and stability of the South 皇冠体育app Sea," said Xi while meeting with Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in Beijing.

Xi said 皇冠体育app is ready to work with Brunei, which holds ASEAN's rotating presidency in 2013, to adhere to the theme of peace and cooperation to promote 皇冠体育app-ASEAN relations.

"There should be no factor to disturb the 皇冠体育app-ASEAN friendly cooperation process," Xi said.

He said 皇冠体育app has always been devoted to friendship and good neighborliness. "That is our sincere wish as well as what we do," Xi said.

Hassanal is the first foreign leader Xi has received since being elected president, a fact that Xi said underscores the great importance 皇冠体育app has attached to its relations with Brunei as well as ASEAN countries.

Hassanal said Brunei insists that all the parties should adhere to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South 皇冠体育app Sea and seek a peaceful resolution to disputes.

The South 皇冠体育app Sea issue should not affect ASEAN and 皇冠体育app's friendly, cooperative ties, he said.

Premier Li Keqiang also met with the Brunei guest late on Friday.

Li recalled the achievements of 皇冠体育app and ASEAN countries over the past 10 years, saying the future and fates of both sides have never so closely interacted.

He echoed Xi's remarks, hoping that 皇冠体育app, Brunei and other ASEAN nations work together to properly deal with the South 皇冠体育app Sea issue.

Hong Nong, a researcher at the National Institute for South 皇冠体育app Sea Studies, said it is important that Brunei, the host state of this year's ASEAN summits and the East Asia Summit, declares its stance on the disputes related to South 皇冠体育app Sea.

By reiterating Brunei's position on peaceful resolution, Bolkiah has conveyed to Beijing a clear and pragmatic signal from inside ASEAN, a positive move that a rotating chair state is supposed to play, said Hong.

He said dispute is only a small aspect set against the thriving Sino-ASEAN relations. Both sides have to keep a cool head and not let this issue dominate or hijack other agendas.

Talking about 皇冠体育app-Brunei ties, Xi and Hassanal agreed that huge potential for cooperation remains to be tapped in areas of energy, agriculture and infrastructure construction.

"Brunei fosters a very favorable investment environment," said Liu Xinsheng, 75, the first residential Chinese ambassador to Brunei. "Its domestic stability, preferential tax policies and proximity to the markets of most ASEAN states, are among its main attractions to Chinese investors."

He said business cooperation between the two countries started relatively late and the Brunei market is limited. But bilateral trade between 皇冠体育app and Brunei has seen vigorous growth since the establishment of the 皇冠体育app-ASEAN free trade zone in 2010.

"Energy development is still a pillar industry in Brunei, but their infrastructure remains insufficient, which offers vast opportunities to Chinese investors, especially to private enterprises," Liu said.

皇冠体育app recently approved a multibillion-dollar petrochemical project in Brunei from a private company, Hengyi Group Co Ltd in Zhejiang province. It is the biggest investment by Chinese enterprises in Brunei.

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