CRI听力:ASEAN Community to Give Impetus to "Belt-Road" Initiative: Chinese FM

The establishment of an ASEAN Community has been dominating this year's ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

The new Community concept is due to take shape by the end of this year, with the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations vowing to create a common economic, political-security and socio-cultural region.

Opening the meeting on Tuesday, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman says the new community will bring opportunities.

"These include continued peace, stability and harmony in the region that will allow our people to pursue their dreams and free from threats or danger, bigger, more open and freer markets for the business community, better health for our peoples including our children and women, educational opportunities and sustainable environment."

The bloc's roadmap for the next 10 years, dubbed the ASEAN Community's Post-2015 Vision, is expected to be adopted within the year.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is suggesting ASEAN is looking for a bigger role in global affairs through establishing the community.

He says it is time for ASEAN to tap its potential, given the increasing integration of the bloc.

"We need to raise awareness of what ASEAN is doing, of how the ongoing changes will be a benefit to all. We must make ASEAN a tangible reality to all our citizens. If our investors and banks can see our potential, we need to ensure that our own people can too."

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the establishment of the Community will not only strengthen the force of ASEAN member states, but will also give fresh impetus to China's "Belt and Road" initiative.

"In terms of how to connect as you are concerned about, the principles of building the maritime silk road between China and ASEAN are joint negotiation, joint construction and then sharing and common interests. This is not the affairs of China itself alone, as we seek joint development and prosperity."

Wang Yi is due to hold talks later on this Wednesday with a number of ASEAN Foreign Ministers, as well as with officials from the United States, who are also attending the meetings.

Issues connected to the South China Sea are likely to be discussed.

He's also set to hold dicussions with officials from Japan and South Korea before wrapping up the meetings in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

For CRI, I'm Luo Wen.