In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

Chinese FM meets Locsin, Asean Sec-Gen on coronavirus fight

February 20, 2020, 2:18 pm

<p><strong>TOP DIPLOMATS.</strong> Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) meets with Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. in Vientiane, Laos Wednesday (Feb. 19, 2020). Locsin said the Philippine government and its people support the effective measures China has taken to fight the coronavirus epidemic. <em>(Xinhua/Kaikeo Saiyasane)</em></p>

TOP DIPLOMATS. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) meets with Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. in Vientiane, Laos Wednesday (Feb. 19, 2020). Locsin said the Philippine government and its people support the effective measures China has taken to fight the coronavirus epidemic. (Xinhua/Kaikeo Saiyasane)

VIENTIANE  – Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday met Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Secretary-General, Philippine and Singaporean foreign ministers here to discuss the joint efforts to combat the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic.

During his meeting with Asean Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi, Wang said the Special Asean-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease to be held on Thursday will send a positive signal that China and Asean countries are fighting the Covid-19 epidemic together, and China-Asean relations will further develop.

“Public health is a common cause crossing national borders, and China is willing to enhance cooperation with Asean in this area, so as to inject new content to China-Asean relations,” Wang said.

The Chinese side hopes the Asean Secretariat will continue to lead and coordinate Asean to firmly pursue China-friendly policies, and play an active role in pushing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to be signed as scheduled, he added.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Asean Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi on Wednesday (Feb. 19, 2020) in Vientiane, Laos. (Xinhua/Kaikeo Saiyasane)

For his part, Lim said that China is an important strategic partner of Asean. In the face of the novel coronavirus epidemic, Asean firmly stands with China.

Asean is willing to work with China to strengthen cooperation on health security in the frameworks of Asean-China (10+1) and Asean-China-Japan-South Korea (10+3), he added.

Lim said next year is the 30th anniversary of Asean-China dialogue relations and the Asean Secretariat is willing to actively push forward the docking of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity 2025.

During his meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Wang said the Philippine government has offered firm support to China in fighting the novel coronavirus epidemic.

He believed the friendship and trust between the peoples of the two countries will be deepened and strengthened after standing the test of the battle against the epidemic.

Wang said China attaches great importance to developing ties with the Philippines and will as always support the Philippines in safeguarding its own legitimate rights and interests.

The Chinese official thanked the Philippines, which serves as a coordinating country for China-Asean relations, for its organizing and coordinating work for Thursday's Special Asean-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease, which will send out a clear signal that China and Asean are joining hands to meet the common challenge, and they will explore and reach new consensus on boosting cooperation on regional health.

Locsin said the Philippine government and its people speak highly of and support the effective measures China has taken to fight the epidemic.

The Filipino top diplomat said the Philippines will do its best to work for the unity and cooperation between China and Asean.

Wang also met with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, hoping that Thursday's Special Asean-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease will not only explore on ways to cope with the epidemic but also push forward the cooperation on public health in the region and promote the capacity of regional countries in meeting the challenges of public health such as this epidemic.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan Wednesday (Feb. 19, 2020) in Vientiane, Laos. (Xinhua/Kaikeo Saiyasane)

He thanked the support Singapore has provided to China in fighting the disease which once again embodies the excellent tradition between the two countries of always supporting and helping each other in difficult times.

Wang said the friendship between the two countries will be deepened in fighting the epidemic and the cooperation between the two countries will be widened after the epidemic.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between the two sides and China is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Singapore, Wang said.

For his part, Balakrishnan said China has been dealing with the epidemic in a highly responsible manner and taking measures rarely seen in the world. China has also shared information with the international community at the first moment, thus offering valuable help to countries including Singapore.

Singapore highly appreciates and respects China's arduous endeavor and sacrifice, said the Singaporean minister, adding that his country would continue to firmly support China.

Singapore is willing to promote communication and cooperation with China, sparing no effort in decreasing the effects caused by the epidemic, in order to restore normal exchanges, Balakrishnan said.

The Singapore side expects frequent high-level exchanges with China, steadily push forward the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, actively promote the RCEP and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, he noted.

Wang is in Vientiane, capital of Laos, for the Special Asean-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease and the fifth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Thursday. (Xinhua)


Comments