Speaking at a video conference during the 11th Editors’Roundtable organised by Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia(ERIA) and Khmer Times in Phnom Penh on October 18, he said that thetwo sides were done with the first draft and are going to the second.
He said despite challenges, including the delay because ofthe COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN member states and China have exerted efforts toresume their negotiations on COC and maintain the momentum of work, includingutilising virtual platform, video conference.
The joint working group has also resumed in-persondiscussions as both continue to reaffirm the aspiration to expedite the negotiations and work towards the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC.
In the meantime, ASEAN will continue to work with China with due attentiongiven to the confidence-building and preventive measure to enhance trust andconfidence among parties in order to provide a conducive environment for the COCnegotiations, he added./.
VNA