ASEAN cannot act on behalf of claimant states in South China Sea dispute: Cambodian PM

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) cannot act on behalf of the countries concerned in the South China Sea dispute and urged all parties involved to continue negotiations.

"ASEAN cannot play its role on behalf of the countries concerned in the dispute," the prime minister said during the annual conference of the Agriculture Ministry, adding, "Countries involved in the dispute themselves are the real negotiators."

He said Cambodia did not take any side in the South China Sea dispute and encouraged countries concerned to continue negotiations. He also urged uninvolved countries not to try to douse petrol on fire.

"I'm speaking in my capacity as a leader of Cambodia and ASEAN, " he said, adding that it was vital to maintain regional peace and to foster the strategic partnership between ASEAN and China.

Hun Sen said all parties concerned in the dispute should fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) toward the compilation of the Code of Conduct (COC) .

His remarks were made just weeks ahead of the 26th ASEAN Summit, which is scheduled to kick off in Malaysia from April 24-27.