However, Chinese observers are not overly concerned about the maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

Ruan Zongze, Vice President of the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), believed that the South China Sea disputes should not and will not affect the entire China-ASEAN relationship. "The dispute is only a tiny part of the whole China-ASEAN relations," Ruan said.

Professor Su echoed Ruan, saying that the maritime dispute is only a problem at the technical level between China and some individual countries. It is not related to the overall relations between China and ASEAN.

In a joint written interview with the media from ASEAN countries ahead of his official visit to Brunei, Thailand and Viet Nam, Premier Li said it is understandable that some neighbors are concerned about China's growing supremacy as there are historically quite a few stories of big powers vying for hegemony.

But Li stressed that times have changed. In the 21st century, the trend toward peace and development has gained momentum. China has benefited much from such a peaceful environment for development, so there is no reason for China to move away from that path.

The premier also quoted an old Chinese saying, "Treat the others as you would like to be treated," to describe China's diplomatic principle.

He noted that China and ASEAN countries have had many in-depth discussions and reached consensus on the question of the South China Sea. "As long as we stay committed to this consensus and act in accordance with mutually agreed upon principles, the South China Sea region will remain peaceful and stable," he added.

In the joint interview, Premier Li also proposed building a maritime cooperation partnership between China and ASEAN nations, working together to build the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st century.

Luo Yongkun, a researcher on Southeast Asian studies with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the maritime cooperation partnership could not only help strengthen the maritime connectivity and deepen practical cooperation on marine economy, but also would be conducive to the proper settlement of the existing maritime disputes and safeguarding the peace and stability of the regional waters.

In the Chairman's Statement of the 23rd ASEAN Summit, ASEAN and China reaffirmed the collective commitments under the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC)—signed in Phnom Penh in November 2002—to ensure the resolution of disputes by peaceful means. In accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the nations agreed to refrain from resorting to the threat or use of force, while exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities.

Su noted that political and security cooperation between China and ASEAN is as important as economic cooperation. Especially in terms of safeguarding the peace and stability of the South China Sea, China and ASEAN share common interests and should work together to meet each other halfway.

During a meeting with ASEAN nation leaders, Premier Li also proposed signing a treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation with ASEAN.

Su said that the treaty, if signed, would lay a very solid foundation for the peace and security cooperation between China and ASEAN. It could act as a stabilizer for China-ASEAN relations even amid the maritime disputes.

Ruan of the CIIS believed that fixing the China-ASEAN friendly relationship in the form of law will relieve those ASEAN members that are skeptical of China's rapid rise. If such legal framework is established, these relations will be upgraded substantially.

In the joint statement after the just concluded China-ASEAN leaders' meeting, leaders of China and ASEAN agreed to work for greater achievements of the two-way relationship over the next decade. They vowed to advance and deepen the ASEAN-China strategic partnership for mutual benefit and continue to fully and effectively implement the 2011-2015 Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.

Moreover, Chinese observers also claimed that in addition to establishing a China-ASEAN community of common destiny and legal framework for friendship, the two sides should create a cultural community based on their common spiritual legacy and cultural heritage.

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