Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Working Lunch in the Philippine capital of Manila on July 31, 2007.

At the 10+3 Foreign Ministers' meeting, Yang said this year marks the tenth anniversary of the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation. The ASEAN Plus Three has maintained sound momentum of growth in the past decade. Multi-level dialogue and cooperation mechanisms have been established and improved, and the ultimate goal of building an East Asia Community has been set. The following principles guiding cooperation have been adopted: the ASEAN be in the driver's seat, building consensus, making gradual progress, taking into account the comfort level of all parties, equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect and seeking common understanding and putting aside differences. The ASEAN Plus Three cooperation has made significant progress. The East Asian countries maintain frequent political exchanges and enjoy enhanced traditional friendship and mutual trust. Negotiations are underway to conclude bilateral and multilateral FTAs, and there is increasing intra-regional economic and trade dependence. East Asia has been the world's fastest growing region for several years running. All this shows that the ASEAN Plus Three has made great contribution to peace, stability, economic development, social progress and common prosperity of the region and has become the main vehicle of East Asia cooperation, said Yang.

Yang suggested all parties make more efforts in the following four areas to strengthen the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation. First, respect each other and seek common ground while shelving differences. All sides should overcome differences, show appreciation and respect for each other's national conditions and choices, expand common interests and pursue common development. Second, work in unity and cooperation. The ASEAN Plus Three cooperation aims to build a harmonious East Asia which enjoys political harmony, mutually-beneficial economic cooperation, mutual trust and cooperation in security and which is culturally enriching. Third, conduct practical cooperation for common development. "We must strengthen practical cooperation in all areas, vigorously support ASEAN integration, with focus on strengthening cooperation in the building of FTA, financial cooperation, infrastructure, information, transportation, human resources and Mekong River development", said Yang. Fourth, be open, inclusive and draw on each other's strengths. "We must encourage the sharing of best practices between the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation and other cooperation mechanisms in the region to expand and upgrade East Asia cooperation", Yang added.

The Chinese foreign minister pointed out that as a member of the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation, China is committed to building good-neighborly relations and partnerships with its neighbors and strengthening cooperation in the region. China is ready to work with relevant countries to comprehensively review the achievements and experience of the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation, and draw up a plan of cooperation for the next 10 years to maintain peace and stability, promote prosperity and development in the region.

At the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Working Lunch, Yang exchanged views with foreign ministers of other countries on EAS follow-up actions, future development direction and other issues. He said diversity in East Asia leads to diversified features of East Asia cooperation in mechanism, speed and area. EAS, initiated by leaders, serves to be a platform for macroscopic, strategic dialogue on broad political and economic issues of common concern. In the EAS development process, all parties should proceed from the practical conditions based on mutual respect, mutual understanding and seeking common ground while shelving differences and follow the principles of addressing easier problems before moving on to thornier ones and gradual progress, so as to jointly push forward the summit.

On the evening of the same day, the Chinese foreign minister also attended a group meeting between Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and six foreign ministers to the six-party talks and other foreign ministers at the current meetings. Yang said with the joint efforts of all sides, the six-party talks adopted three documents including the joint statement, the initial actions and the framework agreement, which represent political will and consensus of all parties and mark the significant progress made in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the process of the six-party talks. He pledged that China is ready to work with all parties concerned as well as the international community to push forward the talks.