MFA Press Statement: Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting (28 to 30 August 2013)

            Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam attended the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in Beijing, China on 29 August 2013.  The FMM, co-chaired by Thailand Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister (FM) Surapong Tovichakchaikul, and Minister of Foreign Affairs for the People's Republic of China Wang Yi, reviewed the achievements of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership, which celebrates its 10^th anniversary this year.  The FMM also canvassed various ways to take forward the Strategic Partnership, in the context of an open and inclusive regional architecture with ASEAN at its core.  ASEAN welcomed China's continued and active support for ASEAN centrality.

           The FMM reaffirmed their agreement at the ASEAN-China Post Ministerial Conference on 30 June 2013 to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).  In this context, they reaffirmed their decision to commence official consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) at the Senior Officials' Level at the 6^th ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC (SOM-DOC) in Suzhou, China on 14-15 September 2013.

           The ASEAN FMs made courtesy calls on Premier Li Keqiang and State Councillor Yang Jiechi after the FMM.  State Councillor Yang Jiechi also hosted dinner for the delegates, after launching a documentary to commemorate the Strategic Partnership's 10^th anniversary.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

29 AUGUST 2013