China reaches consensus with Brunei, Cambodia, Laos

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Vientiane on Saturday that China has reached a four-point consensus with Brunei, Cambodia and Laos on the South China Sea issue.

The four countries agreed that the territorial disputes over some islands, rocks and shoals in the South China Sea are not an issue between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a whole which should not affect the development of China-ASEAN relations, Wang told a press conference.

They agreed that the right enjoyed by sovereign states to choose on their own ways to solve disputes under the international law should be respected.

They opposed any attempt to unilaterally impose an agenda on other countries.

The four countries also agreed that territorial and maritime disputes should be resolved through consultations and negotiations by parties directly concerned under Article 4 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

They believed that China and the ASEAN countries are able to jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea through cooperation.

Countries outside the region should play a constructive role in this regard, they agreed.

Laos is the last leg of Wang's three-nation visit, which has taken him to Brunei and Cambodia.