On October 26, 2023, Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong met with senior officials and representatives from ASEAN countries who were in China to attend the 21st Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
Nong Rong welcomed the ASEAN officials to China to attend the meeting, noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's proposal of the vision of building a human community with a shared future, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy. ASEAN has always been given top priority in the above-mentioned initiative and visions. China and ASEAN share the same home and belong to the same big family, with common interests and goals. Chinese modernization brings benefits to the world and presents opportunities for ASEAN. China is ready to work with ASEAN to stay committed to good-neighborliness, friendship, and mutually beneficial cooperation, continuously advance the building of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, and build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
Nong Rong said that China and ASEAN countries, staying committed to properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation, have advanced practical maritime cooperation and jointly maintained overall stability in the South China Sea over the years. China speaks positively of the progress made in the consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and hopes that all parties will maintain firm confidence, steer clear of disruptions, fully and effectively implement the DOC, and strive for an early agreement on the COC, so as to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation.
Speaking on behalf of ASEAN countries, senior officials from Myanmar, which serves as the coordinator country for China-ASEAN relations, and Indonesia, the rotating chair of ASEAN, noted that the ASEAN-China relationship features rich connotations and fruitful outcomes, benefiting the vast number of people in the region. China's remarkable development achievements have created great cooperation opportunities for ASEAN. ASEAN countries are ready to work with China to continuously enhance mutual trust, promote cooperation, actively advance COC consultations, and build a peaceful, prosperous, and progressive regional home together.
