Moscow: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged Asian countries not to let their territorial disputes disrupt co-operation in a region which she called the ‘engine’ of the global economy.
She urged China and its neighbours to resolve tensions over disputed islands in the East China and South China seas.
According to the BBC, she was speaking at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Vladivostok, Russia.
“Now is the time for everyone to make efforts to reduce the tension and strengthen the diplomatic involvement,” Hillary said.
“This region of the world is the economic engine in what is still a fragile global economy,” the report quoted Hillary, as saying.
“It’ not in the interest of the Asian countries, it’ certainly not in the interest of the United States or the rest of the world, to raise doubts and uncertainties about the stability and peace in the region," she added.
According to the report, Chinese President Hu Jintao told Japanese PM Yoshihiko Noda that a serious situation had developed over the disputed Diaoyu islands, called Senkaku in Japan, and that Japan should not make a wrong decision.
The two leaders did not hold customary talks on the sidelines of the APEC summit because of the row.
ANI
First Published: Monday, September 10, 2012, 13:14