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ASEAN welcomes progress on South China Sea COC amid cooling tensions

(CGTN)    16:09, April 30, 2017
ASEAN welcomes progress on South China Sea COC amid cooling tensions

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) said it welcomed the progress on a framework of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, according to a chairman's statement following an ASEAN summit in the Philippine capital of Manila on Saturday.

"We welcome the progress to complete a framework of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea by the middle of this year, in order to facilitate the early conclusion of an effective COC," the statement said, underscoring "the improving cooperation between ASEAN and China."

The regional organization reaffirmed the importance of "maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and over-flight in and above the South China Sea," adding that peaceful, stable and sustainable development of the sea will generate long-term benefits.

Commenting on the COC, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a press conference on Wednesday that China and ASEAN member states had agreed to seek to conclude the consultation on the draft of a COC framework by the first half of 2017.

"With the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea is cooling down and taking on a positive momentum," Geng stressed. "The relevant parties have returned to the right track of resolving disputes through negotiations and consultations, and are fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) as well as actively advancing the consultation on a COC."

‍Signed in 2002, the DOC outlines the most important principles in the management of disputes in the South China Sea. ASEAN also underscored the importance of "the full and effective implementation" of the DOC in the statement, drafted by the Philippines, which holds the rotating presidency of the organization.

The statement called on relevant parties to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation. All sides involved should pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes and not resort to the threat or use of force, it emphasized.

Bilateral relations between Beijing and Manila have maintained a largely positive momentum since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's visit to China last October. Before the Manila summit, Duterte, who is the current ASEAN chairman, said there was no point in bringing up China's "island-building" at the meeting.

In response to his comment, Geng said at a press conference of the Chinese foreign ministry on Friday that China will continue to follow the agreement reached between the leaders of the two countries and "properly handle sea-related issues with the Philippines."

Also in the statement, ASEAN said that it welcomed the progress in the negotiations of the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement, which are expected to conclude by the end of the year.

(For the latest China news, Please follow People's Daily on Twitter and Facebook)
(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)

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