当前，国际形势错综复杂，全球经济、政治、安全等领域问题此起彼伏。但东亚保持了总体稳定和上升势头，这得益于地区国家共同维护和平稳定的环境，得益于各国专心致力于发展经济、改善民生，中国和东盟都作出了重要贡献。中国是维护亚洲和平发展的坚定力量，始终坚持走和平发展道路，长期奉行睦邻友好的周边政策，愿以自身发展惠及周边、造福亚洲，愿与东亚邻国永远和平共处、共创繁荣。

The international situation remains complex and our world is confronted with many economic, political and security challenges. Nonetheless, East Asia has on the whole remained stable and continued to move forward. This would not have been possible without countries in this region working together for peace and stability and focusing on economic growth and people’s well-being. China and ASEAN have both contributed significantly to East Asia’s development. China is firmly committed to peace and development in Asia, to a path of peaceful development and to a diplomacy aimed at achieving good neighborliness. China stands ready to benefit its neighborhood and Asia at large with its own development and to live in lasting peace and shared prosperity with all its East Asian neighbors.

中国与东盟国家互为近邻，共同利益广泛，但也有不同关切，邻里之间难免磕磕碰碰，这并不奇怪。虽然中国与个别东盟国家之间存在南海争议，但这不会影响南海总体稳定，南海航行是畅通的，安全也是有保障的。今年以来，我们就南海问题进行了有效沟通与对话，达成了很多重要共识。我们提出了处理南海问题“双轨思路”，明确有关具体争议由直接当事国依据历史事实、国际法和《南海各方行为宣言》，通过谈判以和平方式协商解决，南海和平安全由中国和东盟国家共同加以维护。我们强调积极推进海上务实合作，加快建立海上联合搜救、科研环保、打击跨国犯罪等合作机制。我们同意积极开展磋商，在协商一致基础上早日达成“南海行为准则”。中国愿与东盟国家继续推进全面有效落实《宣言》和商谈“准则”，有效促进彼此沟通与互信，扩大共识与合作，努力让南海成为造福地区各国人民的“和平之海”、“友谊之海”、“合作之海”。

As close neighbors, China and ASEAN countries have extensive common interests. In the meantime, we also have some different concerns and disagreements, which is just natural between neighbors. Though there exist disputes between China and some ASEAN countries regarding the South China Sea, this does not affect overall stability in the South China Sea, and freedom and safety of navigation in the South China Sea is guaranteed. Since the start of this year, our two sides have conducted effective communication and dialogue on the South China Sea issue and reached important and extensive common ground. We put forward a “dual-track” approach, making it clear that specific disputes are to be addressed by countries directly concerned peacefully through negotiation and consultation based on historical facts, international law and the DOC and that peace and security of the South China Sea be jointly upheld by China and ASEAN countries working together. We stressed the need to actively advance practical maritime cooperation and accelerate the establishment of cooperation mechanisms in such areas as joint maritime search and rescue, scientific research, environmental protection and crackdown on transnational crimes. We agreed to engage actively in consultations and, on the basis of consensus-building, conclude a Code of Conduct (COC) at an early date. China stands ready to work with ASEAN countries to promote full and effective implementation of the DOC and consultation on a COC, so as to effectively boost communication and mutual trust, expand consensus and cooperation and turn the South China Sea into a “sea of peace, friendship and cooperation” for the benefit of people of all countries in the region.