"Trung Quốc muốn chúng ta đàm phán song phương về vấn đề Quần đảo Trường Sa và chúng tôi đã nhất trí. Rất quan trọng để có được các thỏa thuận để đảm bảo an ninh và hòa bình khu vực". Phó Thủ twongs Malaysia Muhyiddin đã nói như vậy sau khi đến thăm trường Trung học Thực nghiệm thuộc Beijing Normal University.
Talks to resolve claims over Spratlys
2011/04/20
CHINA and Malaysia have agreed that the overlapping claims on Spratly Islands should be settled through diplomatic engagements to preserve the peace and security in the South China Sea.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that in a meeting with China's Vice-Premier Li Keqiang yesterday, the latter had given his assurance that the republic would continue to help maintain the peace and security in the South China Sea and Straits of Malacca.
"China wants us to have bilateral talks on the Spratly Islands issue and we have agreed. It is important to have diplomatic engagements to ensure regional security and peace," said Muhyiddin after visiting the Experimental High School, which is attached to Beijing Normal University.
The one-hour meeting between Muhyiddin and Li was held in the Great Hall of the People, which functions as the republic's Parliament building. Li later hosted a luncheon for Muhyiddin and his entourage in the building.
Muhyiddin said Malaysia would also relay China's request to other Asean member countries, especially those which have made partial or total claim on Spratly Islands.
Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea between Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Malaysia and Brunei.
They comprise less than four square kilometres of land area, spread over more than 425,000 square kilometres of sea.
Muhyiddin said the Spratly Islands issue must be carefully studied and discussed and it was also important to engage China to resolve the dispute.
In the meeting with Li, Muhyiddin said both parties also agreed to cooperate on other matters that include improving food security as both countries imported food products from each other.
"We also agreed to expand our business and trade cooperation in other fields, covering oil and gas, agriculture, forestry and green technology," he said, adding that the matters would be discussed thoroughly when Premier Wen Jiabao visits Malaysia later this month.
He said trade and investments between the two countries had also increased more than seven fold in the last 10 years, from only US$6 billion (RM18.1 billion) in 2001 to US$45 billion last year.
CHINA and Malaysia have agreed that the overlapping claims on Spratly Islands should be settled through diplomatic engagements to preserve the peace and security in the South China Sea.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that in a meeting with China's Vice-Premier Li Keqiang yesterday, the latter had given his assurance that the republic would continue to help maintain the peace and security in the South China Sea and Straits of Malacca.
"China wants us to have bilateral talks on the Spratly Islands issue and we have agreed. It is important to have diplomatic engagements to ensure regional security and peace," said Muhyiddin after visiting the Experimental High School, which is attached to Beijing Normal University.
The one-hour meeting between Muhyiddin and Li was held in the Great Hall of the People, which functions as the republic's Parliament building. Li later hosted a luncheon for Muhyiddin and his entourage in the building.
Muhyiddin said Malaysia would also relay China's request to other Asean member countries, especially those which have made partial or total claim on Spratly Islands.
Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea between Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Malaysia and Brunei.
They comprise less than four square kilometres of land area, spread over more than 425,000 square kilometres of sea.
Muhyiddin said the Spratly Islands issue must be carefully studied and discussed and it was also important to engage China to resolve the dispute.
In the meeting with Li, Muhyiddin said both parties also agreed to cooperate on other matters that include improving food security as both countries imported food products from each other.
"We also agreed to expand our business and trade cooperation in other fields, covering oil and gas, agriculture, forestry and green technology," he said, adding that the matters would be discussed thoroughly when Premier Wen Jiabao visits Malaysia later this month.
He said trade and investments between the two countries had also increased more than seven fold in the last 10 years, from only US$6 billion (RM18.1 billion) in 2001 to US$45 billion last year.
Source: New Straits Times, http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/4nechna3/Article/art_print
