China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should be responsible for promoting peace and stability in their own region or the East Asia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.
"Outside intervention is one of the root causes for turbulence in many regions of the world," he told his counterparts from 10 ASEAN members amid the 49th ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in the Lao capital.
Outsiders can withdraw if turbulence emerges in a region, leaving the regional countries having to deal with the aftermath, the Chinese top diplomat warned.
Countries in East Asia have managed to maintain peace and achieve development through concerted efforts by all countries in the region.
"We should hold the key to promoting regional peace and stability in our own hands," he added.
Nations in the region also welcome all countries with goodwill playing a constructive role in enhancing regional peace and development, said the Chinese top diplomat.
As for China-ASEAN ties, he is hopeful that both China and ASEAN nations could jointly build a community of common destiny.
The Chinese minister set six priority areas for the further development of China-ASEAN relations.
Both sides should jointly make a commemorative summit marking the 25th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relationship a success, and push forward pragmatic cooperation such as the upgraded version of the China-ASEAN free trade area (FTA).
Wang hoped that China and ASEAN nations could strive to boost cultural and people-to-people cooperation as a new pillar for bilateral strategic partnership, adding that China is willing to sign a treaty of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation with ASEAN.
The two sides could also further promote the ASEAN integration based on the Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region.
