Development and construction of China's first deep-water exploration well in the South China Sea, the Lingshui 17-2 gas field, kicked off on Monday in an effort to ensure the country's energy security and gas field construction in the region, China's largest producer of offshore oil and gas said on Monday.
The facilities China put into use recently in the South China Sea will provide more services to countries in the region and effectively support navigational safety, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
Three new weather stations in China's Nansha Islands began operating on Wednesday and will bring more accurate weather reports and warnings to fishermen and ships, according to the China Meteorological Administration.
China called upon states bordering the South China Sea to jointly work with Beijing to guard against external interference and disruption, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.
Naval forces from China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations wrapped up their first joint maritime exercise over the weekend, with representatives of the participating countries expressing their hope for more such drills in the future.
China is expanding military cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to ease regional tension and promote peace, not to erode the United States' long-established defense ties with countries in the region, experts said.
China is willing to make joint efforts to develop industrial and trade cooperation for closer bilateral partnership with Vietnam, Premier Li Keqiang said.
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