(W.E. Talk) China has wisdom and foresight and its cooperation with ASEAN 'nearly Perfect' : former Malaysian ambassador (4)

"Handle the South China Sea issue like assembling a mobile phone"

The South China Sea issue has always been a highly-discussed topic in China-ASEAN cooperation. When talking about regional cooperation, Majid used the mobile phone assembly process as an example to clarify his viewpoint. 

"If you take a mobile phone apart, there are about 200 components. These components may come from thirty or forty countries, and are finally assembled in China or India."

Majid said with a smile that regional cooperation ultimately leads to international outcomes. In his view, the solution to the South China Sea issue also lies in this "assembly wisdom."

"I think ninety-nine percent of China-ASEAN relations are positive, and one percent is about how we manage the South China Sea issue," Majid said candidly.

He believes that both sides do not need to completely resolve all differences; the most important thing is to manage differences well, understand each other, and advance cooperation.

"We have differences,we have this claim, but I think it doesn't really matter, because we have a bigger goal of regional stability," added him. 

In the dialogue, Xu also pointed out on the South China Sea issue that according to the consensus reached between China and ASEAN, 2026 is a key juncture for completing negotiations on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" (COC). Whether progress can be made in the COC negotiations should be the result of joint efforts by both sides. 

He emphasized that the next step for both sides should be to continue fostering an atmosphere of friendly consultation and implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

In addition, all parties should not take measures that complicate or internationalize the issue. At the same time, China and ASEAN should jointly follow the established roadmap, step by step, to promote the final conclusion of the COC.

"Peace and stability in the South China Sea serve the interests of China and all ASEAN parties—this is the greatest common denominator," Xu said.