BEIJING — State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Feb 19 held a phone conversation with Bruneian Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Erywan bin Pehin Yusof on bilateral ties and the situation in Myanmar.

Erywan thanked China for providing emergency vaccine assistance to Brunei, saying it fully demonstrates the true friendship between the two countries at the difficult time and interprets the Brunei-China strategic cooperative partnership.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brunei, Wang said.

China provided vaccine assistance as quickly as possible according to Brunei's needs, which shows China's sincere support for Brunei in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang said, adding that China is willing to deepen cooperation with Brunei in the fight and jointly achieve the final victory.

Brunei currently holds the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar.

ASEAN is highly concerned about the situation in Myanmar, Erywan said, adding that it ultimately depends on the Myanmar people to find long-term solutions to the country's internal affairs.

As the rotating chair of ASEAN, Brunei expects for an early resumption of stability in Myanmar, he said, adding that ASEAN is considering holding dialogue and contact with the Myanmar side.

Erywan said that ASEAN would like to keep close communication with China, the largest neighbor of Myanmar and ASEAN, on the Myanmar issue.

Noting that Myanmar is a friendly neighbor of China, Wang said China has always supported Myanmar's stability and development.

Myanmar is also a member of the ASEAN family, and its domestic situation bears on the building of the ASEAN Community and the bloc's integration process, he added.

The Chinese foreign minister said both China and ASEAN believe that the issues facing Myanmar are its internal affairs that should be resolved peacefully within the constitutional and legal framework, and democratic transition in the country should be promoted in an orderly manner.

China, Wang said, supports ASEAN in playing an active role to this end in the ASEAN Way by upholding the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and consensus-building.

He said the Chinese side believes that ASEAN, as a mature regional organization, has enough political wisdom to help Myanmar tide over the difficulties and expects Brunei, as the rotating chair of the bloc, to play an important coordinating role in this regard.