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ASEAN, Japan and Taiwan should pay very close attention to what happens in this talks.
[Small countries would "pay the price" when big countries reach an agreement. - Singapore's diplomat, Mr Bilahari Kausikan]
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Xi Jinping calls on US and China to create greater trust as high-level talks between two nations start in Beijing
PUBLISHED : Monday, 06 June, 2016, 10:15am
UPDATED : Monday, 06 June, 2016, 4:36pm
President Xi Jinping has said China and the United States should cultivate mutual trust and properly handle their differences as he kicked off the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the two nations in Beijing.
“We should enhance the mutual trust between our two countries,” Xi said in opening remarks on Monday morning.
He also called for both sides to have regular contact to establish “fundamental, strategic, mutual trust”.
The high-level meetings come amid tensions between China and the US over Beijing’s territorial claims in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has said China is erecting a “Great Wall of self isolation” in its policies over the disputed waters, while Beijing has accused Washington of destabilising the region with its military presence in the region.
The US military has carried out a series of “freedom of navigation” patrols near Chinese-controlled islands in disputed areas of the South China Sea in recent months, infuriating Beijing.
Xi acknowledged in his comments the inevitable “differences and sensitive issues” between the two major powers, citing differences in their histories, societies and cultures.
“There is no reason to be scared of having differences, the key is not to adopt a confrontational attitude towards any differences,” he said.
“Some differences can be solved through endeavour and both sides should work harder to solve them,’ he said. “Some differences cannot be solved at the moment and both sides should take each others’ actual situations into consideration and take a constructive approach.”
Xi stressed that the Asia-Pacific region should be a “inclusive big platform for cooperation” instead of an “arena for countries to leverage,” calling for the cultivation of a “mutual circle of friends” between China and the US.
“China and the US have extensive mutual interests in the Asia-Pacific region. [We] should hold regular dialogues, cooperation, cope with various challenges and work hard to cultivate a mutual, instead of an exclusive, circle of friends between the two countries,” he said.
State Councillor Yang Jiechi said at the ceremony that China had stepped up consultations with member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to resolve disputes in the South China Sea.
He said China signed a Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea with Asean members in 2002 and would continue to use a “dual-track” approach to resolve conflicts.
The dual-track approach refers to resolving disputes through negotiations between the parties directly involved and maintaining security through joint efforts with Asean.
“Based on the principle of the dual-track approach, the South China Sea disputes can be properly resolved,” he said.
Yang said China would stick to the path of peaceful development and expected other countries to do the same.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said at the ceremony that international norms should be upheld in handling disputes over the South China Sea.
“We are looking for a peaceful resolution to the dispute in the South China Sea and oppose any country resolving claims through unilateral action,” he said.
Several nations lay claim to areas of the South China Sea, including Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.
[Small countries would "pay the price" when big countries reach an agreement. - Singapore's diplomat, Mr Bilahari Kausikan]
---------
Xi Jinping calls on US and China to create greater trust as high-level talks between two nations start in Beijing
PUBLISHED : Monday, 06 June, 2016, 10:15am
UPDATED : Monday, 06 June, 2016, 4:36pm
President Xi Jinping has said China and the United States should cultivate mutual trust and properly handle their differences as he kicked off the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the two nations in Beijing.
“We should enhance the mutual trust between our two countries,” Xi said in opening remarks on Monday morning.
He also called for both sides to have regular contact to establish “fundamental, strategic, mutual trust”.
The high-level meetings come amid tensions between China and the US over Beijing’s territorial claims in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has said China is erecting a “Great Wall of self isolation” in its policies over the disputed waters, while Beijing has accused Washington of destabilising the region with its military presence in the region.
The US military has carried out a series of “freedom of navigation” patrols near Chinese-controlled islands in disputed areas of the South China Sea in recent months, infuriating Beijing.
Xi acknowledged in his comments the inevitable “differences and sensitive issues” between the two major powers, citing differences in their histories, societies and cultures.
“There is no reason to be scared of having differences, the key is not to adopt a confrontational attitude towards any differences,” he said.
“Some differences can be solved through endeavour and both sides should work harder to solve them,’ he said. “Some differences cannot be solved at the moment and both sides should take each others’ actual situations into consideration and take a constructive approach.”
Xi stressed that the Asia-Pacific region should be a “inclusive big platform for cooperation” instead of an “arena for countries to leverage,” calling for the cultivation of a “mutual circle of friends” between China and the US.
“China and the US have extensive mutual interests in the Asia-Pacific region. [We] should hold regular dialogues, cooperation, cope with various challenges and work hard to cultivate a mutual, instead of an exclusive, circle of friends between the two countries,” he said.
State Councillor Yang Jiechi said at the ceremony that China had stepped up consultations with member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to resolve disputes in the South China Sea.
He said China signed a Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea with Asean members in 2002 and would continue to use a “dual-track” approach to resolve conflicts.
The dual-track approach refers to resolving disputes through negotiations between the parties directly involved and maintaining security through joint efforts with Asean.
“Based on the principle of the dual-track approach, the South China Sea disputes can be properly resolved,” he said.
Yang said China would stick to the path of peaceful development and expected other countries to do the same.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said at the ceremony that international norms should be upheld in handling disputes over the South China Sea.
“We are looking for a peaceful resolution to the dispute in the South China Sea and oppose any country resolving claims through unilateral action,” he said.
Several nations lay claim to areas of the South China Sea, including Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.
