The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China issued a statement in Vientiane Wednesday, calling for full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
The two sides held the 19th ASEAN-China Summit and commemorated the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations in the Lao capital. In a chairman's statement issued at the summit, the two sides underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation in, and overflight above, the South China Sea.
"We welcomed the recent adoption of the Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member States and China on the Full and Effective Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). We stressed the importance of the full and effective implementation of the DOC in its entirety," read the document.
The statement said that ASEAN-China relations are among the most substantial and dynamic, bringing mutual benefit and contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The ASEAN leaders appreciated China's commitment to support ASEAN community-building toward the realization of the visions and goals set forth in the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 as well as China's continued support for ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture through ASEAN-led processes.
It said the leaders welcomed the significant progress of ASEAN-China cooperation made over the past 25 years. Meanwhile, ASEAN leaders noted China's initiatives such as the "Belt and Road" and the 2+7 cooperation framework for further enhancing ASEAN-China relations.
ASEAN leaders were pleased to note that ASEAN-China economic relations have maintained their strong momentum.
The statement said the leaders welcomed the designation of 2017 as the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation and looked forward to enhancing cooperation and activities with a view to boosting two-way tourist visits and promoting greater people-to-people exchanges.
