Milk scare latest-- Consumers lose faith in foreign brands

China is one of the world's major infant formula markets.

In recent years, foreign-branded infant formula has become a premium commodity in the country following a series of milk powder scandals in domestic companies.

However, following this scare, Chinese consumers are losing faith in foreign brands.

SOUNDBITE (CHINESE) Beijing resident:

"I don't know which brand I should buy. Of course, I won't choose those linked to this scandal."

SOUNDBITE (CHINESE) Beijing resident:

"If we have another child in the future, we'd prefer breastfeeding. We would use milk powder only when it's 100 percent necessary."

SOUNDBITE (CHINESE) Beijing resident:

"I'm really worried about the safety of the foreign brand I've long bought. My baby is used to the taste and I'm afraid that if I switch to other brands he won't accept it."

SOUNDBITE (CHINESE) Beijing resident:

"My child is sticking to the foreign-branded milk powder. He'll cry if I stop giving it to him. Now I don't know what to do."

SOUNDBITE (CHINESE) Shanghai resident:

"Foreign milk powder also has quality problems and I won't blindly believe in foreign brands in the future."

SOUNDBITE (CHINESE) Shanghai resident:

"No matter domestic or foreign, all milk products shall be put under scrutiny of related authorities. To beef up quality check is the most important."

2 SOUTH CHINA SEA ISSUE

CHINA: NO RUSH TO SET CONDUCT CODE

INTRO

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says there should be no rush to set the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

This, he says, is because the code concerns the interests of many countries and involves lots of work.

PKG

The Chinese foreign minister made the remarks on Monday during his visit to Vietnam.

He said China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to work on setting the Code of Conduct within the framework of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

China, he said, has been positive and open to the work on the Code of Conduct and has taken note of the positions of concerned parties. <

However, the Chinese foreign minister said the code cannot be agreed on overnight and that it must be consensus-based.

He said China and ASEAN members should overcome disturbances during the process, citing past efforts which failed due to disturbances from certain parties.

The top Chinese diplomat also said, what is important now is the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, particularly its provisions for maritime cooperation.