ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh (Photo: VNA)ASEAN SecretaryGeneral Le Luong Minh made the remarks in a recent written interview with KyodoNews.
He said the10-member grouping welcomes the proposal of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tofast-track consultations on the code of conduct (COC), including thedevelopment of a framework for the code by mid-2017.
"ASEAN andChina have agreed to intensify consultations on the COC to meet the deadline,”he said, adding that the bloc is even ready to further accelerate the COCprocess by presenting specific contents of the code.
He confirmed that threejoint working group meetings on the COC have been scheduled in the first halfof 2017.
He stressed ASEANlooks forward to concluding a COC that is comprehensive and legally binding togovern the conduct and behaviour of the involved parties in the East Sea tohelp create a favourable environment for a comprehensive and durable settlementof disputes.
ASEAN remainsseriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments in the East Sea,including over land reclamations and an escalation of activities in the area,which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may underminepeace, security and stability in the region, Minh said.
That is why ASEANkeeps consistently and actively engaging China in its efforts to maintain andpromote peace and stability in the East Sea, he explained.
Despites somedifferences among ASEAN member countries on several issues, including the EastSea one, ASEAN will not leave its consensus principle in decision making, heaffirmed.-VNA
VNA
