Wang Yi (China) - Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

China, Asean foreign ministers begin emergency meeting on coronavirus in Vientiane

Dewey Sim — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 08:30:28 +0000

The event is the first major multilateral meeting seeking a coordinated effort to combat the public health crisis
A day before, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi met his Philippine and Singapore counterparts and thanked them for supporting China ‘in difficult times’

The foreign ministers of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean [1]) on Thursday began a special meeting in Vientiane, Laos, to discuss measures adopted by Beijing to contain the spread of the coronavirus [2]
.

As leaders joined hands for a photo at the start of the event, the crowd cheered and called out: “Stay strong Wuhan, stay strong China, stay strong Asean.” A video showing comments by Asean leaders on the outbreak, including from Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Thai leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, was also screened.

The emergency meeting is the first major multilateral event seeking to coordinate a public health crisis that experts say could drag on for months. It is co-chaired by China’s Wang Yi and

Philippine [3] foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr, who is also the country coordinator of Asean-China Dialogue Relations.

The emergency meeting is co-chaired by Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Photo: Xinhua

In an opening speech, Locsin said apart from the health impacts of the Covid-19 disease, the outbreak has been “massively detrimental” to trade, travel, and the global economy.

While acknowledging China’s handling of the virus was “unprecedented” and “quick”, the Philippine minister stressed the need for collective efforts, saying that states hoped to work toward a “consolidated response”.

“Enemies such as the Covid-19 demand action, compassion, and cooperation,” Locsin said. “Strengthening cooperation can help pave the way to subduing this enemy.”

Asean leaders in a statement on February 15 expressed “serious concerns over the outbreak”. They said it “poses severe challenges to the well-being of the peoples and the development of our respective countries and the region and the world”.

At least 75,000 people have tested positive for the Covid-19 disease, and more than 2,100 have died, mostly in mainland
China [5].

The latest Chinese health guidelines say aerosol transmission is possible in certain conditions but the main cause of spread remains close contact.

Special ASEAN-China Foreign Minister’s Meeting on #COVID19 [6] to be held tomorrow in Vientiane, LAO PDR. My colleagues made a video as appreciation to AMS governments and people who show deep sympathy, solidarity and heartfelt support to China.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said the only goal that China and Asean member states had was to collaboratively fight the challenges brought on by the outbreak.

Wang said China and Asean nations were “connected by rivers and mountains” and shared the same fate, and that they had a tradition of watching out for and supporting one another.

“This epidemic knows no borders. The virus is our common enemy,” said Wang. “At this moment, we should work together and through closer and active cooperation, effectively prevent the spread of the epidemic and protect our people’s lives.”

Delegates and Asean foreign ministers gather in Vientiane, Laos, on February 20, 2020. Photo: AP

Wang arrived in Vientiane on Wednesday evening and was seen leaving the hotel with a delegation for Lao Plaza Hotel, where he met his Asean counterparts for a welcome dinner hosted by Laotian foreign minister Saleumxay Kommasith.

He also held bilateral meetings with Locsin and Singapore foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan, where he thanked both the Philippines and Singapore for their support. According to state news agency Xinhua, Wang said Singapore’s efforts underscored their long-standing tradition of “helping each other in difficult times”.

In a speech at the dinner event, Wang said China was confident in winning the fight against the coronavirus, noting that the number of recovered patients was rising, Xinhua said.

Wang thanked Asean members for offering support to China during the outbreak. “We hardly feel the winter chill and spring is approaching,” he said.

Asean Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi on Wednesday said the regional group, together with Japan and South Korea, was willing to work with China to strengthen cooperation on health security.

FM Don met with H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councillor and FM of #China [12] before #MLC [13] Meeting and Special #ASEAN [14] -China Meeting on #Coronavirus2019 [15] in Lao PDR. China showed gratitude to Thailand’s support and sympathy and discussed sustainable solutions for this problem. (19 Feb 20) pic.twitter.com/2tJ10fARz2 [16]

— กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ | MFA of Thailand (@MFAThai) February 19, 2020 [17]

The epidemic [18] has disrupted trade and supply chains and slowed regional tourism, forcing countries to downgrade their growth forecasts for the year and plan stimulus measures to help businesses stay afloat.

The emergency meeting is taking place at the Don Chan Palace Hotel, before a previously scheduled afternoon session for Wang and his counterparts from the five countries in the Lancang Mekong Cooperation initiative – a Beijing-backed development drive for the Mekong River.

Asean foreign ministers gathered earlier in the morning before meeting Wang, with the session expected to last for 90 minutes before a press conference. A temperature screening checkpoint was set up at the entrance of the Don Chan Palace Hotel, with sanitizers and disinfectant wipes also on hand.

In recent days, the Chinese government has fended off criticism it had concealed information and was slow to react to the virus outbreak, which began in the central province of Hubei.

Beijing has also criticized moves by several nations to ramp up measures to contain the

outbreak [20], including restricting entry to travelers arriving from China, with Wang describing these actions as triggering “unnecessary panic”.

As cases of the virus rose in Southeast Asia [21], nations ramped up measures to contain its spread, including restricting entry to travelers arriving from China, a move that Wang criticized as an overreaction “that triggered unnecessary panic”. Singapore [22], for example, was one of the first countries to impose a ban on all foreigners who have recently traveled to mainland China, with Indonesia [23] and the Philippines [24] following suit.

Malaysia has banned travelers from the Hubei Province, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, and this week said it would temporarily block international cruise ships [26] that have departed or transited from any ports in China.

Vietnam [27] has closed its land border with China. Thailand [28] has not placed any travel restrictions on mainland Chinese tourists [29], a move that has sparked internal debates within its Cabinet.

Mask-clad tourists visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok on February 1, 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE

A similar meeting between Asean [30] foreign ministers and China was held in April 2003 in the wake of the Severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak.

During that meeting, leaders recognized the need for collective regional efforts to tackle the virus and called for the exchange of information and sharing of experience to control and prevent the spread of Sars, as well as for the closer cooperation among countries’ immigration and customs departments.

China had also pledged a 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million) sum to support China-Asean [31] bilateral programs to prevent and eradicate the coronavirus [32].

Purchase the China AI Report 2020 [33] brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all-new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020.

Source URL: https://scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3051532/china-asean-foreign-ministers-begin-emergency-meeting

Links
[1] https://www.scmp.com/topics/asean
[2] https://www.scmp.com/topics/coronavirus-outbreak
[3] https://www.scmp.com/topics/philippines
[4] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3050734/coronavirus-time-admit-flu-covid-19-here-stay
[5] https://www.scmp.com/news/china
[6] https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[7] https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChinaAseanRelation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[8] https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronavirus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[9] https://t.co/hCMZ1WEqeY
[10] https://twitter.com/China2ASEAN/status/1230075806635835393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[11] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3049598/next-coronavirus-how-biotech-boom-boosting-asian
[12] https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[13] https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[14] https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASEAN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[15] https://twitter.com/hashtag/Coronavirus2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[16] https://t.co/2tJ10fARz2
[17] https://twitter.com/MFAThai/status/1230077758539096064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[18] https://multimedia.scmp.com/infographics/news/china/article/3047038/wuhan-virus/index.html
[19] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3050666/coronavirus-economic-impact-covid-19-already-worse-sars-says
[20] https://multimedia.scmp.com/infographics/news/china/article/3047038/wuhan-virus/index.html
[21] https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia
[22] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3048441/singapore-closes-borders-all-chinese-travellers-stem
[23] https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3048614/coronavirus-indonesia-evacuates-citizens-stops-flights
[24] https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3048576/china-coronavirus-duterte-orders-travel-ban-visitors
[25] https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3048659/coronavirus-here-are-countries-and-airlines-restricting
[26] https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3050901/coronavirus-no-more-westerdam-cruise-ship-passengers
[27] https://www.scmp.com/topics/vietnam
[28] https://www.scmp.com/topics/thailand
[29] https://www.scmp.com/topics/chinese-tourists
[30] https://www.scmp.com/topics/asean
[31] https://www.scmp.com/topics/china-asean-relations
[32] https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3047066/what-do-you-need-know-about-new-coronavirus-china
[33] https://www.scmp.com/china-ai-report/redeem?coupon=PFZ7jKZm&utm_source=scmp&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=CSB-I-inhouse-research_ai_report-scmp-20-wp-1a

Source: https://www.scmp.com/print/week-asia/politics/article/3051532/china-asean-foreign-ministers-begin-emergency-meeting

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Kim Jong-un confirmed as Xi Jinping’s ‘mystery guest’ in surprise northern China summit

Minnie Chan, Laura Zhou, Lee Jeong-ho - south china morning post — Wed, 09 May 2018 04:20:27 +0000

North Korean leader flies in to meet Chinese counterpart as ties between Communist neighbours warm.

Kim Jong-un has made a second surprise visit to China, in another sign of warming ties between the two communist states just weeks ahead of Kim’s planned meeting with the US President Donald Trump.

The visit, the first time he is known to have travelled by plane as leader, was his second visit to China in the space of just over a month.

On Tuesday China’s state news agency Xinhua reported that Kim had met President Xi Jinping in the northeastern city of Dalian during his two-day visit.

The two had previously met during Kim’s visit to Beijing in late March.

Xi praised the improved ties between the two countries and said their latest meeting would benefit them and the entire region.

Following the Chinese government’s announcement, Trump tweeted that he was planning to discuss North Korea and trade with Xi on Tuesday.

Kim was quoted by Xinhua as saying that his trip was intended to further improve Pyongyang’s once frayed relations with Beijing and brief his Chinese counterpart about the latest developments following his meeting with South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in last month.

Donald Trump says date and venue set for landmark North Korea meeting to be announced soon

Kim reiterated his commitment to denuclearisation on the peninsula and lauded Xi’s vision and Beijing’s strategic support for his regime.

“As long as the relevant parties eliminate hostile policies and security threats towards North Korea, there is no need for North Korea to possess nuclear weapons and denuclearisation is achievable” through confidence-building and phased steps, he said.

Analysts expressed surprise at the frequent top-level exchanges between Beijing and Pyongyang and said Kim’s latest visit, which further reinforces Beijing’s foothold on the Korean peninsula, could have a major geopolitical impact.

Like his trip to Beijing in late March, Kim’s visit was shrouded in secrecy amid intense speculation over the past two days about a special North Korean guest visiting China.

Kim, who travelled to Beijing by train last time, is believed to have travelled to Dalian by an Air Koryo flight.

Kim seldom travels by plane and his travel plans are usually top secret, and his visits are usually announced only when they have been completed.

Xi hailed Kim’s trip as a strategically important move “at a profound, complex and critical juncture” for the Korean Peninsula.

He also praised Kim’s recent moves to lower tensions on the peninsula, which had been embroiled in a dangerous nuclear stand-off just a few months ago.

“China supports North Korea’s commitment to denuclearising the Korean peninsula and to dialogue and negotiations with the US,” Xi said.

Relations between Beijing and Pyongyang, which have been strained in recent years, have seen a major thaw since Kim’s Beijing trip, his first overseas visit as leader.

Following Kim’s visit, there have been frequent high-level exchanges between the two sides, including visits by Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi and Song Tao, from the party’s international liaison department.

Cheng Xiaohe, a deputy director of the Centre for China’s International Strategic Studies at Renmin University in Beijing said Kim’s Dalian trip showed it was imperative for both leaders to meet again before the proposed Kim-Trump summit to be held later this month or in June.

“Kim’s first China visit was properly a goodwill visit, but this one was more substantial, which I believe concerns the ultimate political settlement of the Korean issue,” he said.

Denuclearisation of Korean peninsula ‘will be hard to verify’

“What kind of role China can play in North Korea’s denuclearisation, and what China can do, would be the most important part of their conversation”.

Cha Du-hyeogn, a visiting research fellow at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, said Kim’s visit was intended to increase his bargaining power ahead of his scheduled summit with Trump.

“Kim is sending a clear message to the US that he will not be the only one compromising at the negotiating table. His visit also sends a message to Trump that there should be sufficient compensation in return for his denuclearisation as China is backing him up. In this way Kim is using China as leverage ahead of the upcoming summit,” he said.

In addition to meeting with Kim, two independent sources told the South China Morning Post that Xi would use the trip to Dalian to oversee the first sea trial of China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier.

“The Type 001A [carrier] will have a formal sea trial ceremony. President Xi will need to attend because it’s the first aircraft carrier that has been 100 per cent developed and built by Chinese shipbuilders,” one of the sources said.

The Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration had announced on Friday that part of the sea outside the Dalian shipyard where the Type 001A carrier was built would be closed for military activity for one week.

Additional reporting by Shi Jiangtao

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: kim pays second surprise visit for talks with xi

Source: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2145185/chinese-president-xi-jinping-surprise-trip-northern

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China Vows to Play a ‘Constructive Role’ in Resolving the Korean Peninsula Issue

Charlotte Gao — Thu, 03 May 2018 16:34:14 +0000

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, second right, meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, May 2, 2018.

Image Credit: AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin

Chinese foreign minister is visiting North Korea now and Chinese premier is to visit Japan soon.

The world’s attention has been fixed upon the rapidly changing Korean Peninsula for months. As the critical moment that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un to meet with the U.S. President Donald Trump is approaching, China has vowed to play a “constructive role” in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a visit to North Korea from May 2 to 3. He is the first Chinese foreign minister to visit the regime since 2007. Previously, China tended to rely more on the connections between the two ruling parties. As The Diplomat reported earlier, last November — when the North Korean crisis reached a boiling point — China sent Song Tao, who holds the position of minister of the international liaison department of the Chinese Communist Party, to North Korea in the name of party-to-party liaison rather than country-to-country diplomacy.

Wang’s latest visit came just days after the historic meeting between Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, where both leaders agreed to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

At the regular press briefing on May 2, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying explained that Wang’s current visit is “an important measure” for China and North Korea to “follow through on the consensus of the two state leaders and strengthen high-level exchange and strategic communication.”According to the Chinese foreign ministry, on May 2 Wang met with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho after landing in Pyongyang. During the meeting, Wang emphasized that China “fully supports” North Korea’s commitment to the denuclearization of the peninsula, the legitimate concerns of North Korea’s security, and the improving relations between the both Koreas.

Hua highlighted that China “has always stayed committed to realizing the denuclearization of the Peninsula.”

She added:

We hope to work with various parties to consolidate and carry on the positive momentum on the Peninsula and continue to make positive efforts and play a constructive role for the final settlement of the Peninsula issue.

China is indeed actively working with various parties now. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is to visit Japan next week. On May 9, Li will have talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korea’s President Moon — the first trilateral talks between the countries since 2015. Beside the topics of trade and business, the Korean Peninsula issue is undoubtedly on the top of the agenda.

Also on May 2, a Blue House official told South Korean media that Seoul aims to keep U.S. troops stationed in South Korea even after a final peace treaty is signed between the two Koreas.

“The government’s position is that the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is playing the role of a mediator between major powers surrounding the country, such as China and Japan, ” the anonymous official said.

This position, if true, will undoubtedly influence China’s decisionmaking down the road.

On the specific issue, Hua, at the press briefing, didn’t provide a clear response but said that China “maintains that the temporary armistice mechanism should be replaced by a permanent peace regime on the Peninsula. We hope that all relevant parties should work together for this goal through dialogue and negotiation. ”

Source: https://thediplomat.com/2018/05/china-vows-to-play-a-constructive-role-in-resolving-the-korean-peninsula-issue/

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Rouhani urges Trump to remain in nuclear deal or face ‘severe consequences’

I24 News — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 01:57:48 +0000

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivers a speech in Tehran on February 11, 2018

STRINGER (IRANIAN PRESIDENCY/AFP/File)

Trump threatened to pull US out of deal unless Europe agrees to supplement it with tougher controls

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged US President Donald Trump to remain in the 2015 nuclear deal or instead “face severe consequences” as the deadline for recertifying the accord edged closer.

“I am telling those in the White House that if they do not live up to their commitments, the Iranian government will react firmly,” Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state television.

“If anyone betrays the deal, they should know that they would face severe consequences,” he added.

An Iranian official said that Tehran may even consider withdrawing from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the nuclear deal is cancelled.

Trump has threatened to pull Washington out of the agreement unless European capitals agree to supplement it with tougher controls on Iran’s missile program and future ability to return to nuclear fuel enrichment, which he believes the current “sunset clauses” permit.

But his partners continue to believe the implementation of the agreement under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) represents the best way to prevent Tehran from seeking the atomic bomb. Europe would see Trump’s withdrawal of support as a disaster, both in terms of the deal itself – a central plank in their non-proliferation strategy – and in terms of relations with Washington.

US President Donald Trump, right, and France’s Emmanuel Macron talk regularly, have shared memorable handshakes and claim an “unbreakable” friendship

ALAIN JOCARD (AFP/File)

Signalling support for his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the deal “has to be either fully fixed or fully nixed.” He added, “Israel will not allow regimes that seek our annihilation to acquire nuclear weapons.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, encouraged the European signatories to the nuclear deal on Monday to convince Trump not to ‘nix’ the deal as he has continually threatened to do.

Zarif said that there is no “plan B” to the deal and that Trump should start implementing his “part of the bargain.”

“It is either all or nothing. European leaders should encourage Trump not just to stay in the nuclear deal, but more important to begin implementing his part of the bargain in good faith,” the foreign minister tweeted.

Rouhani’s comments come as French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Washington for talks likely to be dominated by the nuclear accord.

“I don’t have any Plan B for nuclear — against Iran,” Macron told Fox News Sunday in an English-language interview, arguing that working to curb Tehran’s missile program and contain its regional influence could be accomplished in addition to the 2015 accord.

Trump in January set a 120-day deadline for US lawmakers and European allies to “fix” his predecessor Barack Obama’s main foreign policy achievement of the Iran nuclear deal or face a US exit

STR (afp/AFP/File)

“So that’s a question we will discuss,” he said, as he prepared to head to Washington.

In addition, the agreement was the fruit of months of intense diplomacy between Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — under EU auspices. Only Trump wants to rip it up.

Russia and China have agreed to work together to thwart any attempts to sabotage the nuclear deal with Iran.

“There are attempts to interfere with the international order upon which the United Nations depends,” Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said after talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing. “We said clearly with China that we will stop attempts to sabotage these agreements that were passed in a UN Security Council resolution,” he added.

If the United States buries the deal, Iran is unlikely to stick to the agreement alongside the other signatories — Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

Iran has vowed to “vigorously” resume production of enriched uranium — a key bomb-making ingredient — if the US quits the deal.

Source: https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/173073-180424-rouhani-urges-trump-to-remain-in-nuclear-deal-or-threatens-severe-consequences

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