Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

SINGAPORE, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The South China Sea issue and the arbitration case unilaterally initiated by the Philippines against China were hyped up by some international media in attempts to drive a wedge between China and its neighbors in Southeast Asia.

However, many experts from China and Southeast Asian countries believe that relations and cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has huge potential, and will not be affected by a single issue like the South China Sea.

SINGAPORE, July 18, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on July 18, 2016 shows the Think Tank Seminar on South China Sea and Regional Cooperation and Development held in Singapore. Organized by the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the seminar attracted more than 20 experts from academic institutes in China and countries in the region, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and India. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

BIGGER PICTURE OF CHINA-ASEAN TIES

China and ASEAN countries are neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, and win-win cooperation is the mainstream of their relationship, Zhao Qizheng, former minister of the State Council Information Office of China, said on Monday.

Zhao's opening remarks at a think tank seminar on South China Sea and regional cooperation and development in Singapore were widely echoed by the participating experts from both China and Southeast Asian nations.

"China and ASEAN have a strategic partnership that has immense potential. This partnership is not - and should not - be defined by a single issue like the South China Sea," said Shahriman Lockman, a senior analyst at Malaysia's Institute of Strategic and International Studies.

"Instead, we need to be mindful of the bigger picture: growing trade and investment links, greater cooperation between our political and security institutions, and deeper understanding between our peoples," he told Xinhua.

Quoting a Chinese idiom which calls for taking the big picture into consideration and working for the benefit of all, Shahriman said this great wisdom should continue to guide the relations between China and ASEAN.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. Two-way trade has grown from less than 10 billion U.S. dollars in 1991 to nearly 500 billion U.S. dollars, bringing tangible benefits to the people of all countries in the region.

In 2015, China-ASEAN trade reached 472 billion U.S aollars with China-ASEAN two-way investment amounting to more than 156 billion U.S. dollars. The two sides are targeting bilateral trade at 1 trillion U.S. dollars and investment 150 billion U.S. dollars respectively by 2020.

"Stability, development, security and the improvement of people's livelihood are common quest of China and ASEAN," said Li Guoqiang, deputy director of Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointing out the practical need and huge potential of further development of the relationship.

"Will such relationship be interrupted by the South China Sea issue? The answer is 'No'," he said.

NO NEED FOR OUTSIDE INTERVENTION

China and ASEAN countries have demonstrated their commitment and ability to jointly maintain the peace, security and stability in the South China Sea without outside intervention, experts said.

"During past ASEAN meetings, we could notice that China and ASEAN had good consultations and communications regarding to the South China Sea with many consensus reached," said Li of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Among these was the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) signed in 2002, and they were steadily pushing forward consultations on the Code of Conduct, he said.

"All these demonstrate that China and ASEAN have channels and mechanisms to solve disputes and problems, and seek approaches and effective rules to safeguard the peace and security in the South China Sea," he said.

ASEAN foreign ministers will meet their counterparts from dialogue partners, including China later this month. In September, a summit marking the 25th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations will be held in Laos where leaders from China and 10 ASEAN members will meet.

"ASEAN and China should use these opportunities to demonstrate to the rest of the world that, as Asian nations, we are able to have a diversity of views and also able to calmly and maturely manage our differences," said Shahriman.

"We should see this as an opportunity to have a new beginning in our relationship, which has benefitted both sides so immensely over the past 25 years."

DIALOGUE REMIANS BEST WAY

Meanwhile, many experts agree that peaceful negotiations remain the best way to solve disputes in the South China Sea and the South China Sea arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines has increased tensions in the region.

"There's no doubt that dialogue, negotiation and consultation remain the best way to solve the disputes," said Li Mingjiang of S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore Nanyang Technological University.

"Many cases and practices in international relations have proved that negotiations and consultations are more effective and pragmatic approaches," he said.

China said the ad hoc arbitral tribunal has no jurisdiction over relevant submissions, so the award rendered by it is null and void with no binding force.

As pointed out by Zhao in a pool interview, many people in the Philippines have begun to question the decision to unilaterally initiate the arbitration against China.

Following a series of positive signals in a bid to mend the soured relations with China, newly-inaugurated Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said last week that he was asking former president Fidel Ramos to help start talks with China over disputes in the South China Sea.

Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow with S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said China and the Philippines could set an example in solving disputes if the two sides resume talks and reach concrete agreements.

"Others will follow suit as no one wants to increase tension over the South China Sea," he said.