Leaders of all 10 Asean nations yesterday agreed to start negotiations with China on a code of conduct for managing tensions in the South China Sea..
Leaders of all 10 Asean nations yesterday agreed to start negotiations with China on a code of conduct for managing tensions in the South China Sea.
The situation in the disputed waters is calmer now, but the current progress cannot be taken for granted, they said in a common statement at the Asean-China Summit.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered the statement, as Singapore is the country now coordinating Asean-China dialogue relations.
Speaking before him, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China «always sees Asean as a priority in our neighbourhood diplomacy».
«We are committed to working with Asean to be good neighbours, good friends and good partners, and to always stand together rain or shine,» Mr Li added in his opening remarks, which did not explicitly mention the South China Sea.
The seeds of yesterday’s decision were planted in August, when foreign ministers from Asean and China agreed on the framework for the code to prevent skirmishes from escalating into open conflict.
This paved the way for them to formally agree to come to the negotiating table.
«I trust that we will continue this positive momentum and work towards a substantive and effective code of conduct. I look forward to its early conclusion,» said PM Lee.
Cooperation is important to maintain peace, stability, freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, he noted.
