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China accedes to South East Asian friendship pact
Phnom Penh, June 19: China agreed today to join a friendship treaty with South East Asian nations that officials hope will help reduce regional conflicts like Beijing`s claims to territory in the South China sea.
Phnom Penh, June 19: China agreed today to join a friendship treaty with South East Asian nations that officials hope will help reduce regional conflicts like Beijing's claims to territory in the South China sea.
"We want to be a good neighbor, good friend and good corporate partner with all the countries concerned," said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing after his country agreed to accede to the treaty of amity and cooperation in South East Asia.
China's national legislature must still ratify the treaty, which was established in 1976 by the association of South East Asian nations. It is a code of conduct governing relations between states and promoting regional confidence-building, preventive diplomacy, and political and security cooperation.
Asean officials have long said China's inclusion in the treaty could help resolve conflicting claims over the Spratly Islands and surrounding areas in the South China sea.
The disputed territories are claimed in whole or in part by four Asean members - Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam - plus China and Taiwan.
Largely uninhabited, the areas are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas. They straddle busy sea lanes and are rich fishing grounds.
"Asean's relations with China are among the most critical that Asean has with other countries," Cambodia's foreign minister Hor Namhong told a meeting between Li and his Asean counterparts.
The dialogue followed today's 23-member Asean Regional Forum, the continent's biggest security forum.
Bureau Report
China's national legislature must still ratify the treaty, which was established in 1976 by the association of South East Asian nations. It is a code of conduct governing relations between states and promoting regional confidence-building, preventive diplomacy, and political and security cooperation.
Asean officials have long said China's inclusion in the treaty could help resolve conflicting claims over the Spratly Islands and surrounding areas in the South China sea.
The disputed territories are claimed in whole or in part by four Asean members - Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam - plus China and Taiwan.
Largely uninhabited, the areas are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas. They straddle busy sea lanes and are rich fishing grounds.
"Asean's relations with China are among the most critical that Asean has with other countries," Cambodia's foreign minister Hor Namhong told a meeting between Li and his Asean counterparts.
The dialogue followed today's 23-member Asean Regional Forum, the continent's biggest security forum.
Bureau Report