China, ASEAN to meet on South China Sea

China said the 15th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea will be convened on Wednesday in Changsha, Hunan province.

Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou and senior diplomats from ASEAN countries will attend the meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Friday. Before the meeting, the 24th Joint Working Group meeting on the Implementation of the DOC will be held.

China and ASEAN countries will continue to discuss issues including implementation of the declaration, maritime pragmatic cooperation and negotiation of the code of conduct in the South China Sea, Geng said.

He said that thanks to the joint efforts of China and other countries in the region, the situation in the South China Sea has been stabilized and maintains positive momentum.

All parties will continue their efforts in pushing forward dialogue and cooperation and striving for more outcomes and progress so as to create favorable conditions for consolidating the current sound situation, Geng said.

The declaration, signed in 2002 by China and ASEAN countries, outlines the most important principles in the management of disputes in the South China Sea. Consultations on the code were launched by the two sides in 2013. Both are aimed at safeguarding peace and stability in the region, officials said.

Xinhua