Hope for peaceful solution

China expects neighbours to resolve disputes amicably

BEIJING: China expects relevant neighbouring countries to peacefully handle and resolve differences and disagreements with China through dialogue and consultation.

Yang made the remarks at a press conference of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature.

To a question on China’s disputes with neighbouring countries, Yang said China hoped relevant countries respected China’s legitimate rights and interests in the Asia Pacific region and avoided making remarks or taking moves that might complicate the situation.

The foreign minister called for relevant countries to work with the Chinese side for stability, development and progress in the Asian region.

“We believe progress has already been made in handling these differences between relevant Asian countries. And the two sides have reached important consensus on seeking peaceful settlement and pushing forward mutual cooperation,” Yang said.

On the South China Sea issue, Yang said China always believed the disputes in the South China Sea should be properly resolved through negotiations between direct relevant parties on the basis of facts and in accordance with the basic norms governing international relations.

Pending final settlement of disputes, the parties concerned might put aside disputes and engage in joint development, he said.

Yang noted that China and relevant countries had reached important agreements on peacefully resolving disputes and pushing forward practical cooperation in the South China Sea.

“At the same time, much remains to be done in this regard,” he said.

According to the foreign minister, China and the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries had reached agreements on the guidelines of the implementation of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

China and relevant countries had the ability and wisdom to properly handle the South China Sea issue and work together for peace and stability in the South China Sea, Yang said.

Yang stressed one should view China’s relationship with its neighbouring countries in “a broader context” of the general trend of development and he believed now the general trend was a “positive” one.

He noted China pursued a policy of building good-neighbourly relationship and partnership with countries and was committed to deepening the mutual beneficiary cooperation with other Asian countries.

“And now the relations between China and other Asian countries are in good shape and we have a lot of positive factors,” Yang said, referring to frequent high-level visits, more closely interwound interests and mutual coordination, and dynamic cultural, people-to-people exchanges between China and Asian countries.

China and other Asian countries have helped each other and worked closely together in handling major regional and international issues, pushing forward regional cooperation and tackling the international financial crisis and major natural disasters. — Xinhua