Adoption of the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on the Implementation of the DOC

ASEAN and Chinese Foreign Ministers affirmed the principles of the DOC, emphasizing the need to soon reach the COC.

On July 25, within the framework of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings, 10 ASEAN+1 Foreign Ministers' Meetings took place with partners China, South Korea, Canada, Japan, India, Australia, the US, the European Union (EU), Russia and New Zealand.

Delegates attending the ASEAN+1 Conference with China take a souvenir photo.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the Conferences.

At the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting, countries welcomed the progress in implementing the 2016-2020 Plan of Action to implement the Joint Declaration on the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh at the Conference.

The Meeting welcomed the recent dialogue and consultations, including the ASEAN-China Senior Officials Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC and the COC Consultation in Ha Long, Viet Nam on 9 June 2016; and stressed that support for ASEAN solidarity and unity will help develop ASEAN-China relations.

On economic cooperation, the Ministers acknowledged efforts towards the target of two-way trade turnover reaching 1,000 billion USD and investment reaching 150 billion USD by 2020. On socio-cultural matters, the Meeting welcomed the commemorative activities held this year as the ASEAN-China Year of Educational Exchanges, and agreed to designate 2017 as the ASEAN-China Tourism Cooperation Year to promote tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at the Conference.

The Ministers also agreed to soon complete preparations for the Summit to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations (1991-2016) to be held next September in Vientiane, Laos.

On this occasion, the Ministers adopted the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on the Full and Effective Implementation of the DOC, which reaffirmed the principles of the DOC and emphasized the need to soon reach a Code of Conduct (COC) to promote regional peace and stability./.

According to VOV