Q: ASEAN foreign ministers discussed at a retreat the building of the ASEAN Community and the development prospect of ASEAN. What is China's comment on that?
A: ASEAN is a major force to promote East Asia cooperation and safeguard regional peace and development. The building of the ASEAN Community, the first sub-regional one in the region, will have a crucial and far-reaching influence over the integration process of the region. China supports the building of the ASEAN Community as well as ASEAN centrality in East Asia cooperation. Putting ASEAN on top of China's neighborhood diplomatic agenda, China will work together with ASEAN toward the goal of building a more closely-knit China-ASEAN community of common destiny, fully implement the 2+7 cooperation framework, enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, and strive for new progress of the bilateral strategic partnership.
Q: The clash along a tract of land where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet has caused casualties. What is China's comment on the Israel-Syria and Israel-Lebanon situation that is becoming tense?
A: The Chinese side is concerned about the ratcheted-up tensions between Israel and Syria as well as between Israel and Lebanon. We express deep regret at the casualties caused by the clash and call on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and prevent the situation from worsening.
