China pledges to further advance cooperation in East Asia: FM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi makes remarks during ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Vientiane, Laos, July 25, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

VIENTIANE -- China will make joint efforts with other countries within the framework of ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and South Korea)or APT to push forward cooperation in East Asia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

When attending an APT foreign ministers' meeting in the Lao capital, Wang said, "China has been an active participant and promoter for the East Asia cooperation."

The platform of APT or "10 +3" has bolstered the East Asia cooperation, and played a vital role in helping boost understanding, deepen cooperation and confront challenges, he said.

Wang called on all APT countries to stick to an integration process suitable to the regional situation and uphold the principle of accommodating the comfort level of all parties so as to make the cooperation benefit all.

The top Chinese diplomat also advised the APT countries to properly handle relations between the "10+3" and other cooperative mechanisms in the region, ties between the 10 ASEAN members and China, Japan and South Korea, as well as relationship between the traditional and new areas for cooperation.

Affirming the APT's role in promoting East Asia integration, the ASEAN ministers expected China, Japan and South Korea to increase inputs and share their experience and expertise with a view to helping ASEAN nations narrow their development gap and realizing common prosperity.

They also hoped that an ASEAN summit in Laos in September could achieve practical results, and the APT countries further boost their cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, culture and education, and effectively deal with non-traditional threat such as terrorism.

Foreign ministers from China, Japan and South Korea supported the ASEAN Community and backed ASEAN playing a central role in regional cooperation.

They also expressed the hope that leaders from the three countries could meet at a trilateral summit this year.