JAKARTA, Nov 22 — Asean Foreign Ministers have welcomed the recent summit between United States (US) President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 15 in Woodside, California, the US.
In a statement, they applauded the leaders’ commitment to open communication and responsible relationship management, building on the foundation laid during the November 2022 meeting in Bali.
They noted that both nations, as Comprehensive Strategic Partners of Asean, were praised for their commitments to key principles, shared values, and international norms outlined in various agreements.
These include the Charter of the United Nations, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the Declaration of the East Asia Summit on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations or Bali Principles, and the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, known as AOIP.
The ministers also expressed a collective interest in reinforcing an open, transparent, resilient, and inclusive regional architecture anchored in international law. They underscored the centrality of Asean, guided by its principles and purposes, and emphasised the importance of building trust and confidence among all regional nations.
“As long-standing partners of Asean, we encourage China and the United States to continue supporting the Asean community-building process and to contribute to the peace, stability, and prosperity of our region based on mutual interests and benefits,” they said.
Asean is prepared to collaborate with both nations to uphold and advance the region’s growth, enhance resilience against emerging challenges, ensure peace, security, and development in the region, and contribute to global well-being.
— Bernama
