State Councilor Yang Jiechi said on Monday that China has reached consensus with several ASEAN countries during preparation work for signing the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the eighth US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogues, Yang said that the code, an implementation of the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea (DOC), is being discussed between China and ASEAN countries.

In 2002, China and the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations signed the DOC, which rules that the relevant parties should resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue and negotiation, he said.

The senior diplomat called on both China and the US to respect each other's core interests and important concerns.

"China will firmly safeguard the national sovereignty, security, esteem and territory," he said, adding that China is a firm supporter of peaceful and stable development of Asia and the Pacific region.