Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui held a video meeting with Philippine Deputy Foreign Minister Elizabeth
On October 29, 2020, Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui, Senior Official of China's East Asia Cooperation Affairs, held a video meeting with Philippine Deputy Foreign Minister and Senior Official of ASEAN Affairs Elizabeth to exchange views on the preparations for a series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders' Meetings.
Luo Zhaohui said that China appreciates the Philippines as a coordinator of China-ASEAN relations for its contribution to promoting the development of China-ASEAN relations and East Asian cooperation, and is willing to work with the Philippines to successfully host the series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders’ Meetings to be held in mid-November. Regional cooperation has deepened and become solid.
Luo Zhaohui said that the current new crown pneumonia epidemic is still spreading globally, and the world economy is in a severe recession.
The United States vigorously promotes the "Indo-Pacific Strategy", the "four-sided mechanism" of the United States, Japan, India and Australia impacts regional cooperation and threatens the centrality of ASEAN. East Asia cooperation faces challenges.
In this context, countries in the region must strengthen their confidence.
Confidence is more important than gold.
We must overcome the dual pressures of the spread of the epidemic and economic recession, unswervingly hold high the banner of multilateralism, and advance the process of regional economic integration.
Second, we must strengthen unity.
Transnational issues require transnational cooperation.
We must continue to uphold the sense of a community of shared destiny of "the mountains and rivers are different, the wind and the moon are in the same sky."
Third, we must focus on development.
This is in the common interest of countries and people in this region.
We must strive to sign the regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement as scheduled, promote the integration of the “Belt and Road” construction with the development strategies of various countries, maintain the stability of the supply chain industry chain, and help East Asia's economic recovery.
Fourth, we must properly handle differences and eliminate external interference.
We must adhere to the effective principles of ASEAN’s central position, consensus, accommodating the comfort of all parties, and not introducing disputes into multilateral occasions, oppose the Cold War mentality and interference in internal affairs, and continue to properly handle the South China Sea issue in accordance with the "dual-track approach" and be fully effective Implement the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", maintain the momentum of consultations on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea," and jointly maintain the overall situation of regional peace and stability.
Luo Zhaohui also expressed his views on the relevant outcome documents of the series of meetings.
Elizabeth positively commented on the progress made in the Philippines-China comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship, and highly appreciated China's contribution to promoting the development of ASEAN-China relations and regional cooperation. She expressed that ASEAN agrees with China's view and believes that under the current background, we should build confidence, unite and focus on cooperation. ASEAN does not want to be involved in the game of big powers, and it does not want to become a field of competition among big powers. The Philippines is willing to play its role as a coordinator, communicate closely with all parties including China, accelerate preparations for various results, properly handle sensitive issues such as the South China Sea, promote the smooth holding of the meeting, and ensure that East Asian cooperation develops in the right direction.