Beijing: Malaysia Agrees To Overcome South China Sea Issues Through Dialogue

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Malaysia agreed to address the South China Sea problem together with other ASEAN countries through dialogue.

"The two prime ministers agreed that China and related ASEAN countries must address the South China Sea issue and disputes and different perspectives independently and appropriately, encourage dialogue and cooperation and are committed to solving problems through bilateral efforts," Lin Jian said at a press conference in Beijing as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, June 20.

This was conveyed in relation to the contents of the meeting between Chinese Prime Minister (PM) Li Qiang and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (19/6).

China is known to claim sovereignty over almost all regions in the South China Sea by calling it the "Nine-Dash Line" area, which is a historical Chinese military region that belongs to part of the Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam's exclusive economic zone, triggering hotspots in these waters.

Most recently, China Coast Guard Officers (CCG) on Monday (17/6) boarded, and searched the Philippine ship that entered the waters near the coral island of Ren'ai Jiao or what the Philippines called "Beting Ayungin" is part of the Spratly Islands disputed by several other Southeast Asian countries.

"PM Li Qiang shows that no matter how the international landscape has developed in the last half century, the two countries have always treated each other sincerely, sought mutually beneficial cooperation and engaged in learning together to achieve stable progress," added Lin Jian.

China, said Lin Jian, is ready to work with Malaysia to continue to develop bilateral relations as a priority for their respective foreign policies and make the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia relations an opportunity to accelerate community development of the two countries.

"PM Li emphasizes that both in the past, now, or in the future, friendship remains the main feature of China-Malaysia relations. The two countries have brought this relationship to a new starting point, and we have the same aspiration to pass it on to future generations," added Lin Jian.

China-Malaysia, according to Lin Jian, also needs to improve traditional friendships, consolidate bilateral relations, and seek broad cooperation in the context of building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

"The two prime ministers also agreed to continue to encourage the implementation of a high-quality RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) and seek to complete the CAFTA (China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement) negotiations version 3.0 as soon as possible," said Lin Jian.

During the meeting, the two of them also witnessed the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields such as trade, science and technology, culture, tourism, postal services, agricultural exports to China, digital economy, environmentally friendly development, urban development and higher education.