China's message of "support for ASEAN's central role"

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said his country supports the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in regional development and integration. According to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, during his meeting with Thai Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, who are visiting Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that countries in the region should refrain from initiatives by non-regional powers that promote inter-bloc confrontation and a Cold War mentality. Pointing to ASEAN’s central role in regional integration, Wang stressed that China supports efforts to build the ASEAN community as a center of economic growth. Wang said China is ready to accelerate consultations with ASEAN countries to establish a “consensus on codes of conduct” in the South China Sea, which is the subject of sovereignty disputes, and noted that they aim to establish concrete and effective regional rules as soon as possible and to turn the South China Sea into a “sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.” Wang said the development of China-Thailand relations would not be affected by changes in the international situation or domestically, and expressed readiness to deepen cooperation in many areas. Wang called for the acceleration of the construction of the China-Thailand Railway and the China-Laos-Thailand Railway connection lines, and for joint efforts to prevent transnational criminal activities including telecommunications fraud. The Thai official also said his country is looking to strengthen dialogue with China and develop mutually beneficial cooperation for common development at a time of increasing international and regional uncertainty. ASEAN has 10 members, including its founding members Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Papua New Guinea and East Timor are also in the process of becoming full members of the organization.