On March 20, 2019, Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou attended High Level Dialogue on Indo-Pacific Cooperation in Jakarta, Indonesia and delivered a speech.
Kong Xuanyou expressed that at the moment, all parties are actively conducting discussions centering on regional cooperation initiatives, varying in version, basic name, geographical range, principle and concept and promotion approach. For the cooperation initiatives in the region, we should adhere to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the core in the first place. It is believed that the ASEAN will continuously adhere to the ASEAN Way featuring mutual respect, consensus-building, and accommodating each other's comfort level and work with various parties to well manage related affairs in the region. Second, we should stick to openness and inclusiveness and win-win cooperation. We should conform to the law of development of regional cooperation, resolutely safeguard free trade and multilateral system, actively promote regional economic integration and inject positive energy into the world economy. We should remain committed to the idea of openness and inclusiveness, strengthen communication regarding different cooperation initiatives, give full play to each party's strengths and complement each other's strengths for synergy, in a bid to realize common prosperity of the region. Third, we should highlight cooperation and focus on development. We should pinpoint the common needs of various parties, especially focus on cooperation in such areas as coordination between the land and the sea, connectivity, sustainable development, practical cooperation at sea and on land, climate change, and digital economy to jointly break the development conundrum.
Kong Xuanyou expressed that since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward six years ago, it has been widely welcomed by the international community and has become the largest cooperation platform and the most popular public product in the world. The second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in late April in Beijing. The Chinese side looks forward to making in-depth exchanges of views with various sides and jointly discussing the undertakings of regional cooperation.
The dialogue was chaired by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi of Indonesia. Vice President Jusuf Kalla of Indonesia attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Representatives from ASEAN member states and major dialogue partners attended the dialogue.
On the same day, Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou also met with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi of Indonesia.
