ASEAN secretary-general speaks highly of concept of "shared future" in relations with China

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have always engaged in win-win cooperation, and ASEAN must learn from China's experience in promoting common prosperity and green development, said ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.

Kao made the remarks while talking about the concept of "a community with a shared future for mankind" proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a recent interview with the China Media Group (CMG).

President Xi proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind for the first time in 2013. The concept advocates for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally-beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and upholds the principles of openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefit, win-win results, and fairness and justice.

On the ASEAN-China relations, Kao believes the foremost concern is long-term peace.

"For sure, I think, we have a shared future. Our future lies in making sure that we have long-term peace. We should never think that war and conflict are obsolete. So I think the shared future we have between ASEAN and China, I think President Xi Jinping, he wants to see long-term peace, I'm sure," he said.

Kao also touched the economic ties that have been central to the partnership between ASEAN and China. He affirmed that China's prosperity has always been a shared prosperity, particularly evident in their trade relations.

"The economic development, economic growth and transformation require a lot of constant innovation, constant re-thinking, constant leadership to look at how we can continue to invest in the economy, and the economy continues to grow to benefit the people. I think the prosperity in China has always been a shared prosperity. The fact that we have been doing a lot of trade together is a win-win cooperation."

The ASEAN secretary-general praised China's pioneering position in green development, and welcomed more investment from China in this area.

"What kind of future do we leave for our future generations? Again, this planet agenda, I think, is win-win together if we work together very closely. That's why we should welcome more green investment from China, we should welcome more participation of China in the renewable and clean energy in ASEAN, including turning waste into energy solutions project. I think China is already experienced in the technology there," he said.

For Kao, the foundation of a successful partnership lies in collaboration, and he believes President Xi is very visionary in this regard.

"It's all about partnership. We cannot do it alone. Some of the global issues today require more cooperation, more collaboration at the international level, as well as at the regional level. So that's why it is important for us, ASEAN and China, to work together for a shared future in that context. So I think what has been pronounced by President Xi Jinping, I'm sure that he is very visionary in that regard," he said.

ASEAN secretary-general speaks highly of concept of "shared future" in relations with China

Years of war in South Sudan have left the East African country littered with landmines that may take more years to remove.

South Sudan had hoped to clear all anti-personnel minefields and cluster munitions in the country by this year.

However, the government says efforts are complicated by a lack of funding, continued insecurity and flooding in the country.

The United Nations says more than 5,000 South Sudanese have been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance since South Sudan's independence 15 years ago.

"In our country mine action is not only for clearing land but also for protecting civilians, supporting peacekeeping mobility, enabling humanitarian operations and creating safe conditions for returns, recovery and socio-economic growth," said Jurkuch Barach Jurkuch, chairperson of the South Sudan National Mine Action Authority.

South Sudan has fertile land that could be crucial to achieving the government's goal of national food self-sufficiency.

However, for far too long, landmines and other unexploded munitions have severely hindered farming activities.

"We are implementing critical interventions including survey, clearance, [safe destruction of explosive ordnance] and explosive ordnance risk education," said Albino Akol Atak, South Sudan's Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.

The government says the risk education initiatives equip farmers and community members with the knowledge and skills to identify potential threats and adopt safe practices.

The United Nations Mine Action Service in South Sudan says it has now destroyed more than one million explosive devices and 4.2 million bullets.

Families torn apart by landmines can be found all over South Sudan. The UN says the threat from the remnants of the country's long civil war is still huge.

"People living in these areas, even there is no accident, nothing happens, it doesn't mean that the hazard is out, so anything they see, anything they get, they still need to report it through the normal reporting system, informing the government," said Clement Aswali, a United Nations Mine Action Operations specialist.

South Sudan's government says most of the country's landmines are left over from the 21-year war between the then northern and Southern Sudanese people which ended in 2005. However, another war between 2013 and 2018 also left behind dangerous explosives.

South Sudan struggles to clear mines left by civil war