BEIJING, August 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Foreign Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, have started their individual meetings with their counterparts from dialogue countries.
They are being held in Myanmar’s capital of Nay Pyi Taw, as part of the ASEAN ministerial meetings which began on Friday. The regional bloc met separately with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South Korea Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.
The meeting with Wang Yi highlighted the achievements of ASEAN-China trade and cultural exchanges. The two sides have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation, and increase the two-way annual trade to 500 billion US dollars by 2015. Another focus was how to reduce and prevent tensions on the South China Sea.
Elaborating on China’s stance, Wang Yi said China will take all necessary means to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interest.
"As a responsible great power, China will continue to exercise restraint. However, unreasonable, provocative activities, are bound to receive a clear and firm reaction from China," Wang said.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
|
