VIENTIANE, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said on Saturday that China supports the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in playing a central role in regional cooperation and opposes intervention in regional affairs from outsider countries, especially big powers.
The ASEAN Plus One (with dialogue partners), ASEAN Plus Three (China, South Korea and Japan), East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum are cooperation mechanisms centered on ASEAN, Liu told Xinhua on the sidelines of the ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials' Meeting.
"Cooperation in East Asia has greatly improved social and economic development in the region over the past 25 years," he said ahead of an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting set to open on Sunday.
But maintaining peace, stability and economic growth in the region is facing challenges against the backdrop of globalization.
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