KUALA LUMPUR: China has committed to signing the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty "as soon as possible" without reservation, according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Speaking to reporters after the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference with China, Mohamad said Beijing’s commitment marks a significant step forward for Asean.
"China has made a commitment to ensure that it will sign the SEANWFZ Treaty without reservation. That’s something very good for Asean.
"(China will sign the treaty) as soon as possible when the documentation is ready," he said on Thursday (July 10).
He described the meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as "very good," noting that discussions also covered routine bilateral and multilateral issues.
These included ensuring free passage and open skies in the South China Sea, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
"Everything is normal, and we look forward to better cooperation between Asean and China.
"We are China’s second-largest trading partner, so there is more room for us to improve and strengthen both bilateral and multilateral relations," he added.
