Wang Yi, ASEAN secretary-general meet in Laos

The special China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting on the novel coronavirus pneumonia will send a positive signal for China and the ASEAN countries fighting together against the epidemic, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

He made the remark when meeting with Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Lim Jock Hoi in Vientiane, Laos.

The meeting, to be held on Thursday with the attendance of foreign ministers from ASEAN countries, will also further develop the China-ASEAN relationship, Wang said.

According to Wang, public health is a common cause that crosses national borders and China is willing to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN in this area to inject a new topic into relations between the two sides.

China highly values the important role of the ASEAN Secretariat, he said.

Wang said that the Chinese side hopes that it will continue to lead and coordinate ASEAN to firmly pursue China-friendly policies and play an active role in pushing the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as scheduled and the establishment of a blue economic partnership focusing on oceans.

Lim, for his part, said that ASEAN firmly stands with China in face of the epidemic and believes that the ASEAN-China relationship will be stronger and more resilient through joint efforts in combating the virus.

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-Republic of Korea (10+3), he said.

Next year marks the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations, and the ASEAN Secretariat is willing to actively push forward the synergy of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, Lim added.

Also on Wednesday, Wang said China has the confidence to win the fight against the epidemic with understanding and support from the international community including the ASEAN.

Speaking at a dinner party of the special foreign ministers' meeting on NCP and the fifth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Wang said that the heads of more than 160 countries and more than 30 international organizations have expressed firm support to China so far.

China is not fighting alone, he said.