PETALING JAYA: Cooperative efforts between China, Malaysia and other Asean countries contribute to stability in the South China Sea stability, says the Chinese embassy in Malaysia.
The embassy's charge d’affaires, Zheng Xuefang, emphasised that the South China Sea is a shared resource, a common home for the nations in the region and that collective action is crucial to protect and preserve it.
Zheng pointed out that China and Asean countries, including Malaysia, are geographically separated by only a narrow body of water, emphasising the region’s interconnectedness.
“In 2002, China and Asean signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which marked a commitment to ensuring peace and stability in the area,” he said.
He said that safeguarding the South China Sea is a common strategic concern for both China and Asean, and their efforts have yielded positive results over the years.
“This stability has created a conducive environment for developing regional nations, including China and Malaysia,” he said at the media briefing on the white paper “A Global Community of Shared Future: China’s Proposals and Actions” on Thursday (Oct 12).
Zheng urged all involved parties to cherish this peace and stability and take responsibility for the future of the South China Sea, holding it firmly in their hands as masters of their affairs.
He also highlighted the importance of a “dual-track approach,” where maritime differences are resolved through friendly consultations with the directly involved countries.
He called for the full and effective implementation of the DOC. He encouraged expedited consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), emphasising that these actions would provide a solid foundation for maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, benefiting all nations.
Meanwhile, Zheng expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with Malaysia in creating an open, fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological advancements, fostering an inclusive atmosphere for progress.
He said China’s commitment to collaboration extends to over 160 countries and regions, aiming to build alliances and promote shared learning and progress.
Zheng noted that by strengthening ties with Malaysia, China aims to create an environment that provides equal opportunities and recognises the valuable contributions that diverse perspectives can bring to science and technology.
In the China and US relationship, Zheng asserts that China believes the common interests shared by the two countries far outweigh their differences.
He said the success of both China and the US should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a challenge for each other.
He believes that China-US coordination and cooperation are crucial in addressing global challenges such as post-pandemic recovery, climate change and resolving international and regional conflicts.
“The importance of China and the US demonstrating broadmindedness, vision, and readiness to rise to the occasion expected by the international community,” he added.
