China stands with ASEAN in reinforcing unity against new challenges, uncertainties: Chinese FM

China stands ready to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in forging closer cooperation for the well-being of the region's peoples and in reinforcing unity to tackle new challenges and uncertainties, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when attending the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Pasay City in the Metro Manila area, the Philippines.

While lauding the fruitful outcomes of China-ASEAN cooperation, Wang expressed China's readiness to work with ASEAN to ensure their partnership continues to serve as an engine for Asia's development and revitalization, a model for Asia-Pacific regional cooperation, and a benchmark for the solidarity and self-strengthening of the Global South.

Wang put forward four proposals during the meeting:

First, to safeguard the regional environment for peace and development. Wang said all sides should champion the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, firmly reject unjustified external interference, oppose patching up exclusive small groupings, refuse to be drawn into camp-based confrontation, and never allow militarism to stage a comeback.

Second, to bolster the resilience of regional development. Wang said that all sides should stay committed to open cooperation, deepen development integration, advance the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, and implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership at a high standard, while enhancing food, energy security, and supply chain stability in the region.

Third, to advance green and innovation-driven development. Wang said that all sides should expand cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and submarine cables.

Efforts should be made to explore synergy with the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, and step up collaboration in climate response, clean energy, green agriculture, and the blue economy, he added.

Fourth, to remain people-centered. Wang said that all sides should promote inclusive and equitable development to ensure that the outcomes of China-ASEAN cooperation are tangible and accessible and deliver greater benefits to the people of all countries.

China stands ready to enhance exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN in poverty reduction, public health, education, youth, think tanks, tourism, media, culture, and other fields, he noted.

On the South China Sea, Wang urged regional states to strictly honor the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

He called on regional countries to resist external attempts to stoke tensions, reject any nation's efforts to stir trouble in the South China Sea, and keep the initiative for safeguarding regional peace and stability firmly in their own hands.

Stressing that a critical window for finalizing the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea is now open, Wang called on all parties to seize the opportunity, fend off interference, and deliver on that objective.

All parties concurred that China is one of ASEAN's most important neighbors and dialogue partners, as well as its largest trading partner.

In the face of a turbulent international landscape, ASEAN countries look forward to closer strategic coordination with China to bolster their own development resilience and advance high-quality connectivity.

They also seek to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, climate change, clean energy, and the fight against transnational crime.

All sides expressed the hope of reaching a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea as early as possible this year, in a joint effort to uphold peace and stability in the region.

The meeting adopted the joint statement of the China-ASEAN foreign ministers on addressing the impact of the evolving situation in the Middle East on the region and strengthening regional energy cooperation.

China stands with ASEAN in reinforcing unity against new challenges, uncertainties: Chinese FM

China stands with ASEAN in reinforcing unity against new challenges, uncertainties: Chinese FM

Thick smoke from persistent wildfires burning across Canada has shrouded communities along the Canada-U.S. border, reducing highway visibility, degrading air quality, and prompting local authorities to issue public smoke advisories for affected areas.

The drifting smoke comes as Canada grapples with widespread, rampant wildfire activity across multiple provinces. According to data released on Tuesday by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, there are currently more than 900 active fires in the country. Since the beginning of 2026, 3,951 wildfires have been recorded across Canada, scorching an area of more than 3.3 million hectares.

High temperatures and shifting wind patterns have pushed the dense smoke toward the border. Along Highway 3 near the Canada-U.S. border, the road remains open, but the fire danger is visible.

A nearby fire has been rapidly expanding its burning radius while firefighters actively cut firebreaks to isolate the flames and control the spread. Authorities in British Columbia's Greater Vancouver area have already issued a formal smoke advisory for the region.

In Hope, a British Columbia town located less than 50 kilometers north of the Canada-U.S. border, the usual bustling tourist season has been replaced by a noticeable drop in visitors.

Travelers passing through the area have felt the immediate impact of the deteriorating air conditions.

"A small sensation of smoke. Quality of the air is indeed not so good," a Belgian tourist said.

For local residents, the lingering smoke has brought severe disruptions and tangible health risks.

"I think that people are suffocating actually. I can show you something. I currently have an inhaler and I am struggling to breathe. Low visibility on the traffic, on the highway," a local resident said, showing her inhaler to a reporter.

In recent days, U.S. government officials have repeatedly blamed Canada for poor forest management, claiming it has led to the cross-border spread of smog that is degrading air quality in the United States. In response, Canadian officials said that they are doing everything possible to fight the fires and have dismissed the U.S. remarks as unacceptable.

Frontline volunteer firefighters, however, have pointed out the futility of assigning blame across borders.

"Smoke knows nothing about borders, of course. And to think that it does. And you hear this from time and time again, Americans will say it's from Canada, Canadians will say it's from the United States. Fires are fires. It's silliness," a volunteer firefighter said.

Real-time wildfire smoke maps of North America show the haze shifts dynamically across the continent, with dozens of active fire sites also burning on the U.S. side of the border. Just as smoke does not respect national boundaries, no country can insulate itself from the deepening climate crisis, as extreme events like wildfires grow increasingly frequent against the backdrop of climate change.

Thick smoke from persistent Canadian wildfires blankets Canada-U.S. border regions