Addressing the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China would not force itself on smaller neighbors.
Addressing a summit between China and ASEAN countries on Monday, President Xi Jinping said China would promote regional peace, stability and development, according to Reuters.
The Virtual Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) kicked off on Monday, with the heads of member states, including China, addressing via video link.Addressing the meeting, President Xi Jinping added that China would never try to establish dominance or harass small countries by taking advantage of its size.
He said that ASEAN would work with the countries to end the interference.
It should be noted that Beijing's claim to the South China Sea has sounded alarm bells for several regional countries, from Japan to the United States.
Addressing the concerns about China, President Xi Jinping said, "China has been and is a good neighbor of ASEAN countries and will remain a good friend and partner."
Referring to the Vietnam War, he said that China and the ASEAN countries had escaped the darkness of the Cold War when the region was plagued by competition and conflict between superpowers and together maintained regional stability.In addition, whenever the United States seeks to negotiate with regional allies in an effort to reduce China's growing military and economic influence, China has criticized the United States for its "Cold War mentality."
US President Joe Biden also attended the ASEAN Summit in October, in which he reiterated his commitment to enhancing relations with the region.
ASEAN member countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, while other South Asian countries, including Pakistan, are partners.
