Wings to the sky [By Jiao Haiyang/China.org.cn]

Peace and cooperation, pronounced "He" in Chinese, is a principle and code of conduct deeply rooted in the traditions of the Chinese culture. "He" implies peaceful, harmonious and auspicious; it can also refer to cooperation, integration and combination. This cultural DNA affects the behaviour pattern of the Chinese people as well as the way China handles its relations with its neighbours.

Over 600 years ago, Zheng He, a Chinese navigator, made seven expeditions to the western seas with a fleet which was then the world's strongest. Unlike Western colonists who engaged in expansion and plunder, Zheng He's fleet brought Chinese silk, porcelain and tea to the countries it visited and left behind touching stories of friendship between the Chinese and locals. The concept of "He" featured prominently in this episode of history.

Since the founding of the People's Republic, China has upheld the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistenceas norms governing state-to-state relations. Thanks to this philosophy, China-ASEAN relations have made great headway. The 1990s saw the formal launch of the China-ASEAN dialogue and the 20-plus years since have seen remarkable achievements made in relations between China and ASEAN countries. In 2003, China became Asean's first dialogue partner to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity was established between the two sides. In January 2010, the China-ASEAN FTA was established. The year 2013 marked the 10th anniversary of China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership. On visits to ASEAN countries, the Chinese leadership proposed building a closer community and shared destiny with ASEAN and a 2+7 cooperation framework focusing on the political, economic, financial, connectivity, maritime, security and people-to-people spheres.

Disputes over territory in the South China Sea have been a challenging issue, but China is committed to handling them in the spirit of peace and cooperation. In 2002, China and ASEAN countries signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). In 2011, the relevant parties reached consensus on guidelines for follow-up actions for the implementation of the DOC and launched a cooperation within the framework of the DOC. In 2013, the parties concerned held consultations on a "code of conduct" (COC) in the South China Sea within the framework of the DOC. Generally speaking, despite the existing disputes, the overall situation in the South China Sea has been stable, allowing freedom of navigation that has helped it become one of the most economically dynamic regions in the world.