Chinese Foreign Minister Absent From ASEAN Meeting In Jakarta

JAKARTA - Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will not attend a diplomatic meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta this week.

Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China would be represented by a senior diplomat who is also the Director of the Central Commission's Office for Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi.

Yi will participate in a meeting with ASEAN Foreign Ministers and ASEAN Plus Tiga on Thursday (13/7), as well as the meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the East Asian Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on Friday (14/7).

Wang did not explain the reason for Qin's absence at the ASEAN meeting.

Qin, who served as Chinese Foreign Minister at the end of last year to replace Wang Yi, was last seen in public on June 25 in Beijing after a meeting with Sri Lankan, Russian, and Vietnamese officials.

"China hopes that there will be more common understanding that emerges from these meetings... and contributes to regional peace, stability and prosperity," said Wang Wenbin as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 11.

China, he continued, will cooperate with countries in the region to support ASEAN unity, as well as advance the goals and principles of Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (TAC) in Southeast Asia.

China will cooperate with countries in the region to take advantage of the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP)... and keep supply chains stable and smooth," he continued. EAS is an area forum involving 18 EAS participating countries, namely 10 ASEAN countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States. While ASEAN Plus Three is a meeting between ASEAN countries with China, Japan, and South Korea.