China and ASEAN countries vowed to deepen legal and governance cooperation as they confront shared regional and global challenges, according to participants at the seventh China-ASEAN Legal Cooperation Forum in the southwestern city of Chongqing.
The three-day forum, which concluded on Saturday, brought together more than 140 legal experts and practitioners from China, ASEAN member states and international organizations.
Discussions focused on trade facilitation, intellectual property protection, law enforcement collaboration and judicial cooperation, with the aim of advancing a China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
"At the moment, most of the countries, not just Cambodia, but many other countries in the region, are the victims of transnational crime, particularly human trafficking, drug smuggling, financial fraud, and online scams. So the best way to address the problem is to work together hand in hand, strengthen legal cooperation in order to combat those [crimes], because this is not the issue of one particular state, but they are issues of the region, issues of the globe," said Chin Malin, vice president of Cambodia's Legislative and Judicial Commission.
Delegates at the forum pledged to cultivate legal talent in China and ASEAN countries, strengthen cooperation between universities and research institutions, and provide intellectual support for legal and governance cooperation.
"Southwest University of Political Science and Law has been cultivating Chinese students proficient in ASEAN languages and laws, while also providing doctoral education for young talents from ASEAN's judicial practice institutions and institutions of higher education. To date, it has trained more than 90 doctoral students, among whom 19 are officials at or above the deputy minister level," said Lin Wei, president of Southwest University of Political Science and Law.
"We have many other [colleagues], not just only me. And in Ministry of Justice, we have four or five high-rank officials [who already] completed PhD programs in Chongqing, in SWUPL, the Southwest University of Political Science and Law. With this good cooperation, every year we send our official to join the trainings, short-term, long-term and the key program study, particularly PhD Program. So this cooperation also help promote the capacity-building programs of our officials, and that also help promote the legal and judicial reform in Cambodia through human resources development," said Chin Malin.
Delegates said their countries would continue to uphold the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and work together to build a stable and prosperous region under the rule of law.
China, ASEAN pledge closer legal cooperation to address regional challenges
China, ASEAN pledge closer legal cooperation to address regional challenges
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that mediation efforts of the Pakistani side regarding the Middle East tensions are in the common interests of all parties.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in his talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing.
During their talks, the two sides exchanged views on current international issues and regional conflicts.
Wang welcomed the visit of the Pakistani side to Beijing for discussion on easing tensions in the Middle East, just after its holding of a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad.
He said China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation and resuming peace talks. This process is no easy task, and Pakistan's mediation efforts are in line with the common interests of all parties, Wang added.
He noted China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to end the hostilities as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.
On bilateral ties, Wang said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, calling on both sides to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and constantly advance the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
For his part, Dar said the Pakistan-China friendship is precious and deeply rooted in people's hearts, adding that Pakistan is willing to work with China to promote the continuous development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Dar thanked China for supporting Pakistan's mediation of the situation in Iran, adding that the current conflict has disrupted international energy supplies and caused heavy damage to developing countries.
Noting that solutions can only be found through negotiation, Dar said Pakistan is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to push all parties to start peace talks as soon as possible and restore regional peace.
The two sides also put forward a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region:
I. Immediate cessation of hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.
II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the United Nations, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
