On August 5 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting (10+1) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Wang Yi noted that China and the ASEAN, which are close in geography and friendly in relations between the peoples, help each other in hard times and share weal and woe. Both sides are special dialogue partners and backbone forces in safeguarding regional peace, stability and development. The China-ASEAN cooperation serves as the main platform for China to participate in regional cooperation. With joint efforts of both sides, the China-ASEAN relations have been advanced constantly with the preparation work for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) achieving substantial progress, a series of initiatives including upgrading the free trade area scoring positive results and the maritime cooperation year between China and the ASEAN smoothly progressing.

Wang Yi expressed that China regards the ASEAN as a priority in its diplomatic relations with neighboring nations, a key region in the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road as well as an important partner in building a new type of international relations with win-win results and cooperation as the core. The most important common interest, common demands and common aspiration for us are to accelerate development, maintain stability and deepen cooperation respectively. China always firmly supports the construction of the ASEAN community, the leading role played by the ASEAN in regional cooperation and the positive role played by the ASEAN in international and regional affairs. China is willing to link up the "Belt and Road" initiative with the development strategies of the ASEAN members and the blueprint of the building of the ASEAN community so as to provide new impetus and open up new prospects for the solidarity, cooperation, development and revitalization of China and the ASEAN.

Wang Yi said that in building a more closely-knit China-ASEAN community of common destiny and promoting the "2+7" cooperation framework, the Chinese side is ready to further deepen China-ASEAN cooperation by putting forward a new ten-point proposal. First, plans shall be made for activities commemorating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relationship in the next year. 2016 shall be designated as the year of China-ASEAN educational exchanges. Second, the formulation of the Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity (2016-2020) shall be finished. Third, a working group shall be formed to discuss the signing of a China-ASEAN treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation. Fourth, international production capacity cooperation shall be carried out to drive forward the complementary economic growth of China and ASEAN as well as their common renewal. Fifth, connectivity shall be advanced. The Chinese side would like to consult with ASEAN on the formulation of an overall plan about connectivity. Sixth, efforts shall be made to ensure the year of China-ASEAN maritime cooperation a success, creating new highlights for maritime cooperation. Seventh, joint efforts shall be made to promote Lancang-Mekong cooperation and render more support to the building of ASEAN community. Eighth, the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone shall be signed as soon as possible. Ninth, defense and security cooperation shall be strengthened. The first informal China-ASEAN defense ministers' meeting will be held in China. Tenth, peace and stability of the South China Sea shall be jointly upheld.

Wang Yi noted that the hard-won peace in the South China Sea attributes to the joint efforts of China and the ASEAN nations. China and the ASEAN members have the willingness and wisdom to manage and control differences, accumulate consensus, safeguard stability and keep peace. All parties both in and outside the region have the responsibility and obligations to support the efforts made by China and the ASEAN. Wang Yi put forward a three-point initiative to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. First, States in the South China Sea region undertake to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, accelerate the consultation on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" (COC), and actively explore "preventive measures on managing risks at sea". Second, states outside the region undertake to support the above-mentioned efforts made by states in the region and refrain from taking moves that could raise tension and complicate the situation in the South China Sea. Third, all states undertake to follow the international law in exercising and upholding the freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea.

Foreign Ministers from ASEAN nations present at the meeting expressed that the ASEAN-China partnership serves as the most active and fruitful relations among the relationship between the ASEAN and its partners. The ASEAN highly appreciates the great contributions made by China to the development of ASEAN-China relations and positively evaluates the new ten-point proposal in deepening bilateral relations put forward by China. ASEAN attaches great importance to the ASEAN-China strategic cooperative partnership and stands ready to make joint efforts with China to jointly build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, enhance connectivity, upgrade the construction of the China-ASEAN free trade area, deepen cooperation in all fields including investment, production capacity, education, science and technology and public health and boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The ASEAN nations positively evaluate the three-point initiative to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea put forward by Wang Yi and the positive progress achieved in Senior Officials' Meeting on implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the joint working group meeting on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" (COC) held in Tianjin recently. ASEAN nations are willing to work with China to earnestly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), speed up the pace in the consultation on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" (COC) and build the South China Sea a sea featured with peace, friendship and cooperation.