ASEAN skirts new consensus

Meeting in Laos called frustrating for countries trying to contain China

The annual gathering of top diplomats from Southeast Asian countries on Sunday did not reach any new consensus on the South China Sea issue, a frustration for countries seeking to contain China.

A statement issued after the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Laos' capital Vientiane said the ministers had a "candid and constructive exchange of views on regional and international issues ... as well as developments in the Middle East, Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea".