Conflicts in South China Sea not undermining Asean-China partnership: Surapong
Asean and China said Thursday they would not allow conflicts in the South China Sea to undermine cooperation in their strategic partnership covering which economic ties, a free trade pact, infrastructure connectivity and maritime cooperation.
A meeting in Beijing co-chaired by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and his Thai counterpart Surapong Tovichakchaikul, foreign ministers of the Asean member countries, is currently taking place to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership.
The territorial dispute in the South China Sea that involves China and Asean members is one of the topics of discussion.
Asean and China signed a non-binding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in 2002 as an instrument to handle the troubled ocean territory and are working towards a legally binding code of conduct (COC).
Chinese and Asean ministers were looking forward to constructive and substantive discussion on the DOC and COC at a meeting of senior officials in mid September in China, Surapong said in a press conference after the meeting.
These close consultations should allow both sides to make progress and conclude the code of conduct for good practice in South China Sea soon, he said.
