INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday briefed the media on China-ASEAN cooperation, U.S.-imposed tariffs and the South China Sea
issue while attending the annual ASEAN Plus foreign ministers' meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Wang, also a member of the Political
Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that against the backdrop of rampant unilateralism and protectionism, China
and ASEAN countries are demonstrating a strong desire to support each other, unite and cooperate, and jointly meet challenges.On China-ASEAN
cooperation: 'Most energetic' in Asia-Pacific regionWang said the meetings in Kuala Lumpur achieved a series of outcomes. Firstly, the
completion of negotiations on version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was confirmed and it was agreed that it would be submitted for
approval and signing at the leaders' meeting in October, signaling that China and ASEAN will continue to promote regional economic
integration and build a high-level regional free trade network.Secondly, China and ASEAN agreed on the action plan for the comprehensive
strategic partnership for the next five years, setting out over 40 goals of all-round cooperation in various fields, injecting strong
impetus to bilateral pragmatic cooperation in the next phase.Thirdly, both sides welcomed the completion of the third reading of the draft
text of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), agreed to strive to complete consultations within 2026 and reach a COC that is
effective, substantive and in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
This will provide a stronger guarantee for peace and stability in the South China Sea.Wang pointed out that China puts forward the building
of a community of shared future with neighboring countries and promotes the modernization of these countries.Noting that all ASEAN countries
speak highly of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and believe that China is the most important dialogue partner of ASEAN,
Wang said that China-ASEAN cooperation is the most energetic and fruitful example in the Asia-Pacific region, and we are fully confident in
the future of China-ASEAN relations.On U.S.-imposed tariffs: 'Openness brings progress'"Openness brings progress, while closure leads to
backwardness," Wang said when commenting on U.S.-imposed high tariffs against various countries.Amid the ongoing mixture of changes and
chaos in the current international situation, every country must make a choice between unilateralism and multilateralism, closeness and
openness, unity and division, said Wang.China's choice is to be more open, he stressed, explaining that this is not only the basic
experience of China's development and growth, but also the inevitable logic of history moving forward.China has taken the initiative to
provide zero-tariff treatment for products to the least developed countries and the entire Africa, fully completed negotiations on version
3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, and has created a new model of cross-regional cooperation at the ASEAN-China-GCC summit, he added.In
contrast, the high tariffs imposed on various countries are a clear violation of World Trade Organization rules, disrupting the stable
operation of the production and supply chains, and hindering the recovery and development of the world economy, said Wang, adding that such
a move is irresponsible, unpopular and unsustainable.On South China Sea issue: 'Peace, stability and cooperation'Noting that the South China
Sea issue is discussed every year at the meetings and this year was no exception, Wang said: "What struck me most this time is the clear
temperature difference between regional countries and a few countries from outside the region."Wang said he proposed that a new narrative
should be built for the South China Sea."We should not always associate the South China Sea with friction, conflict or confrontation, but
with peace, stability and cooperation
This should become the mainstream narrative in the future," Wang said.Wang also said that China and ASEAN countries have agreed to upgrade
the DOC by formulating a COC that is effective, substantive and consistent with international law.All sides also agreed to strive to
conclude the COC as scheduled next year, he said.Wang said he also elaborated on China's position regarding the so-called South China Sea
arbitration case during the meetings.This arbitration case has serious flaws in terms of fact-finding and application of law, Wang said,
adding that it carried out actions that violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea under the name of the convention
itself.(With input from Xinhua)
