Latest news with #ProtocoltotheTreatyontheSoutheastAsiaNuclear-Weapon-FreeZone
Malaysia Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
Wang Yi says China dependable partner for ASEAN countries
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (C), is pictured at the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 10, 2025. /China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs China has always been the most reliable stabilizing force in a turbulent world and the most dependable partner for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members to address challenges, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia on Thursday. Noting that China and ASEAN share similar development concepts, common demands, and integrated interests, Wang said China regards ASEAN as a priority direction for neighborhood diplomacy and a pioneering area for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. "We should support and achieve success for each other in promoting the modernization process of Asia," said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Wang briefed the attendees on the achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation and put forward four proposals. First, to be a model in defending international fairness and justice, Wang said that China and ASEAN must resolutely safeguard the global system, with the United Nations at its core, and the international order based on international law. China supports ASEAN's central position in the regional architecture and its greater role in regional and international affairs. China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to practice open regionalism and true multilateralism and make greater contributions to regional and global governance. Second, to be a model for maintaining regional peace and stability, Wang said that the peace and stability in the region are extremely precious and should be firmly safeguarded. He said that geopolitical conflicts or bloc confrontations should not be introduced into Asia, adding that China is willing to take the lead in signing the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. Wang said that the South China Sea is the shared home of regional countries, rather than a "gladiatorial arena" for major powers and that China is willing to expand cooperation with ASEAN countries in areas such as marine environmental protection, navigation safety, maritime law enforcement and key marine infrastructure, and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, advance consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and always keep the initiative on the South China Sea issue in our own hands. Third, to set an example of conducting mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, Wang said China is willing to work with ASEAN to build the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, foster the high-quality development of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and create a high-level free trade network. China is willing to continue to take the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as the main platform, strengthen connectivity and cooperation in production and supply chains with ASEAN, and create highlights of cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation and clean energy. China speaks highly of ASEAN's firm commitment to free trade and the multilateral trading system and believes that it is necessary to resolve economic and trade differences through equal dialogue and mutual benefit, safeguard own dignity and the bottom line of principles, and must not do so at the expense of the interests of third parties, Wang said. Fourth, to set an example for promoting inclusiveness and mutual learning, China is willing to continue to advocate dialogue, exchanges and mutual understanding among different civilizations with ASEAN countries, Wang said, adding that both sides should jointly well organize the "Year of People-to-People Exchange," enhance exchanges in education, youth, think tanks, media and other fields, take concrete actions to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, and promote mutual understanding, friendship and integration among the people. The participating countries said that China-ASEAN cooperation is the most dynamic and fruitful. China has always been one of the most important dialogue partners of ASEAN, expressing gratitude to China for its support of ASEAN's central position. They said that they are willing to accelerate the alignment of development strategies with China, cooperate under the Belt and Road Initiative at a high quality, deepen all-round cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, digital transformation, clean energy and transnational crime crackdown, and look forward to the signing of the ASEAN-China free trade area 3.0 protocol within this year to continuously promote regional economic integration. Appreciating China's willingness to take the lead in signing the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone, they said they look forward to the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea by all parties. They also said that they are willing to work with China to safeguard multilateralism and the multilateral trading system, jointly address global challenges, further strengthen unity and cooperation with China, advance the modernization process in Asia, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. Wang also met with the foreign ministers of relevant countries during the meeting. Source: CGTN
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Asean's Zopfan revived thanks to China and Russia's support, says expert
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean's long-standing aspiration for a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan) has gained renewed traction following China and Russia's readiness to sign the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ). International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Department of Political Science and Madani Studies lecturer Prof Dr Zainal Abidin Sanusi stated that this development reflects Asean's commitment to advancing the Zopfan vision by balancing security, sustainability, and inclusive growth for future generations. He noted that China and Russia's readiness to join demonstrates that Zopfan is not just historical rhetoric but an evolving framework relevant in today's strategic landscape. "This move directly reinforces Zopfan, reducing the risk of nuclear escalation in a region increasingly exposed to great-power rivalry, especially in the South China Sea," he told Bernama ahead of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) on Tuesday (July 8). Zopfan, signed on Nov 27, 1971, by Asean member states in Kuala Lumpur, aimed to keep Southeast Asia free from external powers' interference, reinforcing Asean's commitment to regional neutrality and autonomy during the Cold War. Prof Zainal Abidin suggested that this development could boost the international credibility of the SEANWFZ Protocol and intensify diplomatic pressure on other Nuclear Weapon States (NWS), notably the United States, United Kingdom, and France, to reconsider their reservations and re-engage with the treaty. "Malaysia's neutral and principled foreign policy gives it the credibility to act as a trusted bridge-builder in such complex negotiations," he added, highlighting a broader shift in Asean's diplomatic posture. "This marks a key moment in what some are calling 'sustainability diplomacy', a redefined approach to peace and security that centres on long-term cooperation in environmental protection, green growth, and inclusive development, beyond just military or geopolitical strategies," he said. Despite Southeast Asia's nuclear-weapon-free status, Asean remains vulnerable to nuclear-capable deployments by external powers. "Asean leaders believe that securing universal NWS adherence is now more urgent than ever to protect Zopfan's spirit and safeguard Southeast Asia's stability and prosperity," he said. Prof Zainal Abidin proposed that Asean establish a regional compliance and monitoring mechanism in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), modelled on the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone's commission, to strengthen transparency and confidence-building. He emphasized that environmental protection is a key pillar of SEANWFZ, as the treaty prohibits radioactive waste dumping and strictly limits nuclear energy activities, reinforcing intergenerational equity and the region's ecosystems' health. Malaysia's Asean 2025 Chairmanship theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability" aligns with global concerns such as climate change, equitable development, and peace, linking SEANWFZ to broader issues like environmental protection and social justice. Malaysia has worked diligently through Asean committees and diplomatic channels to ensure smooth logistics and focused discussions for this year's meeting, particularly on sensitive issues such as monitoring and enforcing the treaty. He added that Malaysia could use its leadership in green technology, clean energy, and equitable economic growth to demonstrate how sustainability-anchored diplomacy can shape regional peacebuilding more holistically. "This is different from past Asean meetings that kept security and development in separate boxes. Now, Malaysia is helping Asean think across sectors, combining peace and sustainability in new ways," he said. Prof Zainal Abidin expressed that Malaysia's leadership could transform the AMM into a milestone event, not only for peace and denuclearisation but for the rise of sustainability diplomacy as a defining approach for Asean's efforts in balancing geopolitics, the environment, and development. The 58th AMM and related meetings, scheduled from July 8 to 11, are expected to gather about 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from Asean, Timor-Leste, Asean dialogue partners, Asean Regional Forum (ARF) participants, sectoral dialogue partners, and Asean Secretariat senior officials. Malaysia is hosting the AMM as part of its fifth Asean Chairmanship, having previously held the role in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. - Bernama
