Polish media ignored the 57th ASEAN summit held in Wientian, the capital of Laos. Only economical and safety policy- specialised portals noted this event, focusing on the accompanying summit of the Heads of Diplomacy of China and Russia, during which both states reaffirmed common support for their interests.
Understandably, the editorial work of the leading Chinese English-speaking medium, “Global Times”, was far more serious. W articleMultilateral unity, cooperation highlighted as top diplomats meet in Laos (Multilateral unity and cooperation highlighted at the gathering of the leading diplomats in Laos) the claim that "The region is hoping to drive global economical development".
Unity alternatively of click
As the nonsubjective of the Vienna Summit, the Global Times points to the discussion by ASEAN abroad Ministers and the Asia-Pacific region of common concerns and underlines unity in the face of expanding global uncertainty. "The tight agenda of the Chinese abroad Minister Wang Yi in Laos, including discussions on China-ASEAN relations, regional improvement and major global issues, has shown that despite geopolitical tensions and competition between major countries, dialog and cooperation with open China remains attractive to another nations".
As global instability increases and external interferences increase, especially in the South China Sea, ASEAN countries place greater emphasis on regional unity and prioritise cooperation with China and another large countries alternatively than being drawn into tiny cliques that could undermine regional cooperation," analysts say.
Wang, besides a associate of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist organization of China (CCCC), took part in the ASEAN Ministerial Conference with China, together with ASEAN abroad Ministers or their representatives and ASEAN Secretary-General, Dr. Kao Kimem Hourn Friday (July 26).
Economic motor
During the gathering Wang presented the fruitful achievements of China and ASEAN in various aspects, ranging from trade and investment to interhuman exchange and energy cooperation. For example, China remains ASEAN's largest trading partner for 15 years in a row, while ASEAN has become China's largest trading partner for 4 years in a row, and bilateral trade has increased by 10.5% year to year in the first half of 2024.
A gathering of ASEAN abroad Ministers and related events took place in the context of slow economical growth in the planet and prolonged geopolitical conflicts. All parties hope to turn this region into a driving force for global economical improvement and give fresh impetus to global cooperation, as the Global Times said Xu Liping, manager of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
ASEAN on the fresh Silk Road
"ASEAN is simply a precedence direction and key region for a advanced quality joint construction of the Belt and way Initiative, and is 1 of the first regions to benefit from China's efforts to accelerate high-level opening" said Xu.
The expert noted that Wang's visit to Laos, at the same time his first abroad visit after the 3rd plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the PSC, as well as extended exchange of views with ASEAN abroad Ministers, would foster the implementation of the proposed improvement session. and further deepening cooperation between China and ASEAN.
The Americans ask to meet
The second part of the article, entitled “Raising Challenges”, states: "On Thursday (25 July) the 57th gathering of ASEAN abroad Ministers was launched in Wientian, followed by meetings with east Asian countries and another global players, including Russia, the US and the EU. According to the Chinese Ministry of abroad Affairs, from Thursday to Friday Wang Yi held bilateral meetings with abroad ministers of Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, large Britain and Norway on the margins of ASEAN-related meetings’. Ombudsman for the Chinese abroad Ministry Mao Ning said Friday that Wang would besides meet in Laos, at the request of the American side, with the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Although Mao did not supply concrete information on the time or another details of the meeting, she concluded that Wang and Blinken were believed to exchange views on issues of common interest.
According to Xu, the ASEAN gathering and side talks have become a key platform for China to engage in bilateral diplomacy and participation in multilateral cooperation. For years, China has consistently addressed neighbouring regions in its diplomatic strategy, actively expressing its global prospects and expanding its global influence.
Chinese-Indian Dialogue
Some analysts noted that China's position on dispute resolution through dialog was clearly shown in interactions Wanga with diplomats from another countries during side talks (sideline talks) which is in line with ASEAN's common aspirations. For example, Wang met with the Indian abroad Minister at Wientian on Thursday Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and both parties agreed to commit jointly to maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and to advance fresh advancement in consultation on border matters.
Qian Feng, manager of the investigation department at the National Institute of strategy at Tsinghua University, said that the latest remarks of China and India's leading diplomats on the border issue emphasize the commitment of both countries to solve border disputes through diplomatic channels and dialogue, despite existing discrepancies. specified efforts to prevent the escalation of conflict gaps are peculiarly crucial in the current global context.
Development guaranteed by peace
The current global instability makes peace in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, peculiarly valuable. Most ASEAN countries value their hard-earned peace and want to avoid conflicts specified as those in Europe, said “Global Times” Gu Xiaosong, Dean of the ASEAN investigation Institute at Hainan Tropical University. The abroad ministers of China and most countries of the region stressed the importance of peaceful dispute resolution, agreeing that the war would disrupt the region's economy. Many have besides expressed a strong desire to prevent the escalation of the South China Sea situation through dialog and cooperation aimed at maintaining peace and stableness in the region, as Gu stated.
Analysts noted, however, that the efforts of China and most ASEAN members to address the South China Sea issue through dialogue, as well as ASEAN efforts to strengthen unity, were met with provocations from external interference. For example, the United States and any of their allies have intensified efforts to bring ASEAN countries into their tiny cliques and to support the Philippines in their provocations on the South China Sea issue, raising concerns in the region.
ASEAN peace
"Most Southeast Asian countries have expressed a strong will to keep peace and stableness in the South China Sea, with any affirmative impact on the current tense situation" – said Liu Chang, a investigator at the China Institute of global Studies. Liu said that gathering US Secretary of State Blinken with ASEAN abroad Ministers and visit to Southeast Asia would not bring crucial results; "Until the dust settles after the U.S. presidential election, Southeast Asian countries are expected to be more cautious in cooperation with the US".
To conclude, the “Global Times” forecast that "ASEAN will proceed to item its collective position by sticking to its current abroad policy and avoiding speaking on either side in the main competitions for power [over the world]. This reflects ASEAN's determination to keep peace and stableness in the region while maintaining vigilance towards the possible instability resulting from major conflicts of forces, observed observers.".
Beijing focused on cooperation with Moscow
The meeting, which attracted the top interest of the fewer Polish media, which even noted the summit, was dedicated to a separate Article "Global Times": Wang Yi and Lavrow item ASEAN-focused, open and inclusive architecture of regional cooperation (Wang Yi, Lavrov item ASEAN-centered, open and inclusive regional cooperation architecture). Chinese authors leave from quoting an observer assessment after a Friday gathering of both ministers that "both China and Russia support the ASEAN-focused regional architecture, as the multilateral coordination mechanics helps to prevent the excessive intervention of major powers, especially NATO, from extending its tentacles to the Asia-Pacific region. (...) China is ready to cooperate with Russia to keep its ASEAN-focused, open and inclusive architecture of regional cooperation, told Wang Lawrow”. Head of Chinese Diplomacy “said that in the face of an unstable and complex global situation and external disturbances and obstacles China is ready to cooperate with Russia, to keep the first pursuit of a lasting good neighbourhood and friendship, to powerfully support each other, to defend their basic interests and to stay good partners for improvement and regeneration".
On the another hand, the Chinese portal notes the words of min. Lavrov that "Russia will work with China to support ASEAN's central location and prevent interference and infiltration of external forces". However, the discussions did not only concern regional issues. “Global Times” quotes a clear-sounding assessment Cui Heng, a investigator from the Center for Russian Studies of the University of east China: "The relation between China and Russia is at the best minute in history, and Wang's gathering with Lavrow is simply a circumstantial manifestation of healthy bilateral relations. In cooperation, both countries can successfully tackle common challenges and advance stableness and cooperation".
Sources of destabilization
“Global Times” announces another meeting: "During Thursday's trilateral gathering between Wang Yi, Lavrow and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and abroad Minister Saleumxay Kommasith Wang stressed that strengthening cooperation between the 3 countries will not only aid to defend their common interests, but will besides send a clear signal of solidarity and cooperation between the countries of the region to combine efforts to advance stableness and prosperity in the region and to deal with threats and challenges. The Chinese minister, as permeating, destabilising, uncertain and unforeseeable factors worldwide, listed increasing hegemonism, uniteraryism and protectionism, as well as the background (the undercurrents) of the ‘small yard, advanced fence’ and the ‘disconnecting and breaking chains’ combined with persistent regional conflicts’.
A message by the Russian Ministry of abroad Affairs after the gathering of the Lavrov with Wang besides said that "both ministers then went on to discuss how to implement the concept of building a fresh safety architecture for Eurasia".
Joint manoeuvres in the Bering Sea
Asian issues are decided by Asians and this trend is now very clear. Cui Heng stated that the Western-dominated global order began to fail, at least in Asia and Eurasia, and among non-Western countries there is simply a tendency to bilateral or multilateral cooperation to dominate regional processes. However, bilateral relations between China and Russia disagree from the average kind of military-political alliance. Both countries go beyond this model of state-state relations, taking an approach consisting in the deficiency of alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of 3rd parties, claims Zhang Hong, a investigator at the Institute of Russia, east Europe and Central Asia of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The “Global Times” besides cites an crucial event that takes place at the same time outside the Laos summit: "On Thursday, China and Russia carried out an eighth joint strategical air patrol, during which bombers of both countries first flew over the Bering Sea". The portal besides recalled respective weeks earlier common sea activities in the waters close the confederate coast of China. ‘Experts stated – provides “Global Times” – that this highlighted the increasing military cooperation between China and Russia and its contribution to peace and stableness by ensuring a global strategical balance".
Li Hui embarks on a peaceful tour
Chinese journalists point to another aspect: "The gathering of Russian and Chinese abroad ministers took place the second day after Wang Yi gathering with the Ukrainian abroad Minister ♪ Dmitro Kuleba ♪ in Canton’. According to Chinese abroad ministry spokesperson Mao Ninga on Friday China will send a peculiar typical of Chinese government for Euro-Asian affairs Li Hui to visit Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia. Starting on 28 July, Li will hold the 4th circular of circular diplomacy on the crisis, he will proceed to exchange views with the main members of the Global South on the current situation and the peace talks process, discussing with them the de-escalation of the situation and conditions enabling peace talks to resume, as Mao said.
China's function in promoting peace talks has become highly significant. Beijing consistently promotes peace talks, is not straight curious in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and does not profit from it. “This is simply a trustworthy party” Zhang Hong said.
Urgent Deescalation
"The fight continues, the prospects for peace talks stay unclear, and the conflict may escalate further and spread. A spokesperson for the Chinese MFA Mao Ning noted that among the global community, especially in the Global South countries, there is widespread concern about the situation, and the call for deescalation became all the more urgent" – concludes “Global Times”.
Due to the importance of ASEAN for the planet economy and politics, it is worth to draw attention to the book of the worker of the Institute of global Studies and safety at the University of Wrocław, dra Łukasz Fijałkowski Regional safety dimension in Southeast Asia. Standards – Institutions – Regional governance (Wroclaw 2010) and led by the Centre for Asian Affairs of the University of Lodz "Monitor ASEAN".
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