Premier Wen Jiabao warned yesterday against outside forces becoming involved in territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the affairs of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), as the United States seeks to exert more influence.
In a speech at a summit in Bali, Indonesia, that was widely seen as a call for Southeast Asian nations to keep China's interests in mind, Wen urged Asean to be 'clear minded'. He also offered member states economic aid and said China would co-operate with them in weathering the financial crisis crippling developed countries.
'We should keep our destiny firmly in our own hands and not slacken the pace or waver in our advance in the direction we have set for ourselves to pursue our goal,' Wen said at the summit commemorating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-Asean relations.
'Outside forces should not get involved under any circumstance in the handling of the South China Sea disputes,' he said.
Wen said China is willing to discuss a code of conduct in the South China Sea with other countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday that a high-level meeting on the code will be held in China before the end of the year.
Wen's remarks were made as the US said the disputes should be discussed at today's East Asia Summit in Indonesia. US President Barack Obama told Philippine President Benigno Aquino that the US was 'looking out' for his country.