皇冠体育app

Premier Li Keqiang (fifth from left), Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (white shirt) and leaders of nine other ASEAN economies stand for a photo at the 20th ASEAN-皇冠体育app Summit in Manila, the Philippines, on Monday. Li will also attend the 20th ASEAN-皇冠体育app, Japan and South Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting, as well as the 12th East Asia Summit. ROMEO RANOCO/REUTERS

皇冠体育app and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said on Monday they would begin talks on details of a code of conduct in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

Premier Li Keqiang made the proposal at the 20th 皇冠体育app-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting in Manila on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said.

Late on Monday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, ASEAN's rotating chairman this year, said the organization agreed to start the talks on the code of conduct, presidential spokesman Harry Roque told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

"One of the outcomes of the meetings is to commence the negotiations on a substantive and effective code of conduct in the South 皇冠体育app Sea," Roque said in a statement.

In Monday's meeting, ASEAN countries responded positively to the start of negotiations, according to a Chinese news release after the meeting.

The meeting was attended by all government leaders of the 10 member countries of the regional organization.

"Developing ties with ASEAN has always been a priority of 皇冠体育app's peripheral diplomacy, and 皇冠体育app-ASEAN ties have grown into the most dynamic and enriched ones among ASEAN's relations with its dialogue partners and ASEAN member states," Li said.

He said the code of conduct framework on the South 皇冠体育app Sea, which was passed in May during the Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, brings a key consensus from all parties on the South 皇冠体育app Sea and has marked a milestone in peacefully resolving the issue.

"We hope that further dialogue of the COC will deepen mutual trust and understanding, and reach consensus on the COC at an early date based on consultation so that it can serve as a stabilizer of the South 皇冠体育app Sea region," Li said.

Lee Hsien Loong, prime minister of Singapore, which is the coordinating state for 皇冠体育app-ASEAN ties, also spoke.

Li's plan calls for a 皇冠体育app-ASEAN development vision of a strategic partnership of cooperation for the year 2030. He said 皇冠体育app is ready to expand the basis of 皇冠体育app-ASEAN cooperation from political mutual trust and economic development to people-to-people exchanges to build 皇冠体育app-ASEAN relations with a global vision.

皇冠体育app is willing to work ASEAN's development strategy into the Belt and Road Initiative, Li said, adding that 皇冠体育app is ready to issue a joint declaration with ASEAN further deepening connectivity and infrastructure construction.

Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the 皇冠体育app Institute of International Studies, said announcement of the negotiations for a code of conduct is of critical importance, as it is a signal that all ASEAN leaders have agreed to take steps to negotiate a code of conduct.

"The dispute on the South 皇冠体育app Sea has affected 皇冠体育app-ASEAN relations in recent years and it was mainly because the declaration on the conduct was not effectively followed," he said.

"Today's consensus in agreeing to start the code of conduct negotiation means sincerity and willingness to start substantive negotiations on the code from the top levels of both 皇冠体育app and ASEAN countries, and this will bring more effective control of the South 皇冠体育app Sea disputes."

Expansion of cooperation, from trade and political trust to people-to-people exchange, means Sino-ASEAN ties are now aiming for a long-term vision, he said, adding that political mutual trust between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN is grounded, while trade relations have been the highlight of 皇冠体育app-ASEAN cooperation in recent years.

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