ASEAN, China to increase mutual trust for maritime security

NAYPYITAW,Nov.13(Xinhua)--SoutheastAsiancountriesagreedhereonThursdaytoincreasemutualtrustwithChinatoenhancemaritimesecurityandresolvedisputesbypeacefulmeanswithoutresortingtothreatoruseofforce.

Inachairman'sstatementissuedafterthe17thleaders'meetingbetweentheAssociationofSoutheastAsianNations(ASEAN)countriesandChina,theASEANreaffirmedtheimportanceofmaintainingpeace,stabilityandmaritimesecurityintheregion.

TheASEANreaffirmeditscommitmenttothefullandeffectiveimplementationoftheDeclarationontheConductofPartiesintheSouthChinaSeainitsentiretyaswellastoworktowardstheearlyconclusionofaCodeofConduct(COC)intheSouthChinaSea.

Thestatementalsovoicedsupportfortheimplementationofearlyharvestmeasures,includingtheadoptionofthefirstlistofcommonalitiesonCOCconsultation,theestablishmentofahotlineplatformamongsearchandrescueagencies,ahotlineamongforeignministriesonmaritimeemergencies,andatable-topexerciseonsearchandrescue.

TheASEANagreedtodesignatetheyear2015astheASEAN-ChinaYearofMaritimeCooperation,welcomingChina'scomprehensiveplanforutilizingtheASEAN-ChinaMaritimeCooperationFundtoprovidefinancialsupportfortheircooperationintheareasofmaritimeconnectivity,marinescienceandtechnology,aswellasmaritimescientificresearch,searchandrescue,disastermanagementandnavigationsafety.

MyanmarPresidentUTheinSein,whosecountryholdstherotatingchairoftheASEANthisyear,presidedovermeetingintheMyanmarcapitalofNayPyiTaw,whichwasattendedbyleadersofASEANcountriesandChinesePremierLiKeqiang.