China pushes for closer ties in Asean talks, with focus on pandemic
- Foreign ministers meet in Chongqing, Beijing says ‘pragmatic cooperation’ and regional peace and security also on agenda
- Officials at separate meeting agree to resume negotiations on code of conduct for the South China Sea
Tensions over the disputed waterway have long been an issue between China and its Southeast Asian neighbours and a proposed regional code of conduct has been delayed.
03:23
The South China Sea dispute explained
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after the ministers’ meeting that Asean and China “must immediately” continue talks on the code, noting that “progress is currently very slow”.
“We hope that these negotiations will end quickly with effective and substantive results,” she said, adding that Indonesia was ready to host a meeting in Jakarta “in the near future”.
“Our ability to manage the South China Sea will be a test for Asean-China relations,” she said.
Retno also said she hoped for more cooperation with China to tackle Covid-19.
China’s foreign ministry on Sunday said the pandemic and its economic fallout would be high on the agenda at the talks, along with “pragmatic cooperation” and joint efforts for regional peace and security.
China has stepped up engagement with countries in Southeast Asia, a strategically important region that has emerged as a key battleground for influence between Beijing and Washington, whose rivalry has intensified across geopolitics, trade, technology and security.
Xu Liping, an expert on Southeast Asia with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Beijing was likely to push for broader cooperation that went beyond traditional areas.
That could include “efforts to reconstruct the supply chain and industry chain under the RCEP so as to build a stable system in the region”, he said.
Monday’s talks come as some Southeast Asian nations are grappling with a spike in Covid-19 infections. Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was unable to join the meeting, sending his deputy in his place, because he is in quarantine as a close contact of a positive case.
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Xu said Asean was likely to maintain neutrality on the issue.
“Taking a side would definitely put Asean’s interests in jeopardy,” Xu said, adding that Asean would try to keep a distance from the rivalry between China and the US.
Additional reporting by Resty Woro Yuniar