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China urges Southeast Asia to join united front against new cold war
- Chinese foreign minister calls on counterparts in Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos to reject efforts to undermine peace and stability
- Coronavirus vaccines also on agenda in Wang Yi’s weekend of talks
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Countries in Southeast Asia should voice their “joint opposition” to acts that undermine peace, stability and prosperity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a weekend of talks with regional counterparts.
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Speaking after a meeting with visiting Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah in Anji, Zhejiang province, on Saturday, Wang said cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries was “on the right side of history”.
This was in contrast to efforts to “decouple” or provoke a “new cold war”, Wang said, in an apparent reference to the United States.
He said China promoted international unity over division, cooperation over confrontation, and stability over conflict, adding that countries should respect each other’s sovereignty and not interfere in others’ internal affairs.
Wang also held talks with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Anji on Saturday and had a meeting Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith via video link on Friday.
The call with Saleumxay followed a virtual opening ceremony of the China-Laos Railway attended by leaders of both countries.
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