Comment on "Foreign minister encourages a 'dual track' approach to sea issue" (China Daily, Aug 11)

China's "dual track" approach to resolve the territorial disputes in the South China Sea is a welcome move and should be seen as such by the countries in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam and the Philippines.

China has sent a clear message to countries that are trying to interfere in the regional disputes that the disputing countries are more than capable of resolving their differences for the betterment of the region and the world beyond. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has made it clear that China wants to maintain cordial relations with member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, because it is in the interest of peaceful development, which is the overwhelming trend of the times.

The countries locked in disputes with China over territorial rights in the South China Sea have to show similar goodwill gestures if they are really interested in resolving the differences and laying the foundation of joint peaceful development in the region.

The Asia-Pacific region has become the engine driving global economic growth, and countries in the region have to take the responsibility of ensuring that the disputes among them do not harm peaceful development. Nothing is solved by confrontation and conflicts. National egos have to take a back seat to ensure the well-being of the region and the world beyond.

Let us hope the Southeast Asian countries respond in similar fashion to maintain peace and prosperity in the region.

A READER, via e-mail

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(China Daily 08/19/2014 page9)