From July 3rd to 4th, Li Zhaoxing, chairman of the China Association for International Friendly Contact (CAIFC), led a delegation for the seminar named “Functional Cooperation on the South China Sea” held in Myanmar.
Chairman Li highlighted at the seminar that the core issue around the South China Sea is that the dispute over the Nansha territory caused by some neighboring countries around the South China Sea illegally occupying some islets on the Nansha Islands in China overlaps the marine claims in the South China Sea. China has been committed to working with countries concerned to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, in hope of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. It sticks with negotiating with the countries concerned to settle the disputes and actively advocates the idea of “putting aside disputes and seeking common development”. China hopes that all parties can respect and support the countries concerned to resolve the disputes through direct negotiations and efforts to maintain regional peace and stability.
The seminar was jointly organized by the Asian Council of Peace and Reconciliation, Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies and the Saranrom Institute for Foreign Affairs of Thailand. More than 30 former politicians, experts and scholars from China, ASEAN, the United States, and European countries had in-depth discussion around functional cooperation on the South China Sea. The participants generally agreed on the proposal of “putting aside disputes and seeking common development”, hoping to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Zhou Xinzheng, deputy secretary general of the CAIFC, attended the event.
Chairman Li Zhaoxing delivering a speech at the seminar
A group photo with the present representatives
Chairman Li Zhaoxing being interviewed by the Thailand National Television
