On April 21, 2016 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a press conference upon the end of his visit to Brunei, stressing that the "dual-track approach" is the most practical and feasible way to resolve the South China Sea issue.
Wang Yi expressed that both China and Brunei are coastal countries along the South China Sea and that the peace and stability of the South China Sea is in the common interests of the two countries. This time I have exchanged in-depth views with Brunei on the current situation of the South China Sea and reached a series of consensus. Both sides believe that it is necessary to eliminate interferences, overcome difficulties and continue to firmly push forward the "dual-track approach", which means that disputes related to the South China Sea should be addressed properly through negotiations and consultations among countries directly concerned, and China and the ASEAN countries should work together to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Wang Yi pointed out that the "dual-track approach" is totally consistent with the principles of peaceful settlement of disputes through negotiations and consultations proposed in the UN Charter, as well as Article 4 of the binding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) jointly signed by China and the ASEAN. This approach is the most practical and feasible way to address the South China Sea issue in a proper manner.
Wang Yi expressed that in line with the "dual-track approach", parties directly concerned can find solutions acceptable to them through friendly consultations. Pending a settlement, they could also discuss and shelve disputes for joint exploration and effectively manage and control disparities. China and the ASEAN should comprehensively and earnestly implement the DOC through cooperation, speed up the consultations on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" and further discuss new approaches to carry out cooperation among all the coastal countries along the South China Sea including China. Deviating from the "dual-track approach", the overall interests of the ASEAN will be obstructed and even kidnapped by certain individual countries for private gains and the peace and stability of the South China Sea will be also jeopardized by the intervention of countries outside the region upon the occasion, which is absolutely unacceptable to China and ASEAN countries.
Wang Yi pointed out that the "dual-track approach" was first put forward by Brunei. China considers it in the interests of all coastal countries along the South China Sea. China's support and strong advocacy of practicing the "dual-track approach" is to prove to the international community that China and the ASEAN are fully capable of managing and controlling differences while maintaining stability so as to truly build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation