China, ASEAN nations vow to effectively implement DOC on South China Sea

Senior officials from China and the ASEAN nations vowed on Thursday to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on Conducts of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

The 12th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC, co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Singapore's Permanent Secretary of Foreign Ministry Chee Wee Kiong, was held in Vietnam's northern Halong City.

All parties vowed to continue to fully and effectively implement the DOC, deepen practical maritime cooperation and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The officials discussed the proposal that foreign ministers of China and the ASEAN nations issue a joint statement on the full and effective implementation of the DOC, and agreed to strive to reach a consensus at an early date.

On the consultations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), the 11 parties promised to implement relevant early harvest measures as soon as possible and speed up the formulation of a guideline for the Hotline Platform among senior officials of ministries of foreign affairs between China and ASEAN nations in response to maritime emergencies.

They also discussed the better use of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea in the South China Sea.

All parties reaffirmed their aspirations for an early conclusion of the COC on the basis of consensus, and vowed to boost maritime cooperation, enhance mutual trust, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea as well as prosperity and development in the region.

(APD)