China highly values and wants to join Vietnam’s efforts in promoting peace, stability and development in the region, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

FM Yang stated this whilst giving an interview to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Beijing just before he attends the 43 rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-43), the post ministerial conferences (PMCs) and the 17th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF-17) in Hanoi from July 20-23.

Yang said that the Asia-Pacific region is generally stable but remains unpredictable due to a number of factors. In this context, all parties concerned have shown a keen interest in this year’s ARF, AMM and PMCs, he noted.

According to Yang, as the most important cooperation and security talks in the Asia-Pacific region, the ARF has used its important role to enhance confidence amongst its members as well as to promote peace, stability and development in the region over the past 16 years.

China praised the forum’s role and is keen that the ARF-17 will focus on discussions that bolster political trust and further regional cooperation and security dialogue, said Yang.

Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair, has completed its preparations for the AMM, PMCs and ARF, he said, adding that China believes that the conference will be a resounding success.

On promoting the Vietnamese-Chinese strategic partnership as well as the cooperation shown between ASEAN and China, FM Yang suggested that both countries maintain the exchange of senior level delegations while boosting political confidence, cultural exchanges and holding the Vietnam-China youth festival and other social events.

Vietnam and China should enhance their bilateral cooperation to raise two-way trade to 25 billion USD this year, settle territorial border issues satisfactorily, maintain stability in the East Sea and support each other on international and regional issues, he said.

China wants Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair and ASEAN-China Coordinator, to contribute to building and developing the ASEAN-China relationship. China also hopes to maintain close links with Vietnam through bilateral and multilateral channels and push the ASEAN-China strategic partnership forward.

Yang went on to say that since the start of this year, the ongoing tasks of creating an ASEAN community and promoting East Asia cooperation have developed well. In the post economic crisis, ASEAN countries have prioritised the exchanges, link-up and trade, while fine tuning the plans to bring ASEAN countries closer together.

The ASEAN-China free trade zone came into operation in early 2010 and the ASEAN+3 financial cooperation has recorded many breakthroughs. Currently all the parties concerned have announced that they will set up a foreign currency reserve and a credit guarantee and investment facility and are preparing for setting up a regional surveillance mechanism.

FM Yang said that these achievements have been due to the efforts of Vietnam, an important member and current Chair of ASEAN.

He confirmed his country’s wishes to join Vietnam in promoting regional peace, stability and development in the region./.