ASEAN, China adopt draft framework of COC
VGP – Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and China on Sunday adopted the draft framework of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) after nearly four years of talks.
The COC framework is the first step of pragmatic negotiation process for an effective and legally binding COC, contributing to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Head of Vietnamese SOM ASEAN, Deputy FM Nguyen Quoc Dung said this is a positive beginning for the next pratical and effective COC negotiation.
The document will be submitted to the ASEAN Summit scheduled in November this year.
Vietnamese Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh on August 5 suggested ASEAN boost exchanges with China to soon start practical negotiations for the effective and legally-binding COC.
Deputy PM, FM Minh affirmed Viet Nam’s consistent position on the importance of peace, stability, overflight and maritime security and safety in the East Sea to peace and stability in the region.
Robespierre Bolivar, Spokesperson of the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said the framework on the COC would definitely be mentioned in the joint communiqué of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings, noting the negotiated statement could still evolve.
“Whatever comes out in the Joint Communique at the end of AMM related meetings is going to be a document with a consensus of ASEAN,” he said in a press briefing.
Also at the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting in Manila, the Philippines on August 6, the two sides adopted a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the ASEAN-China center with an aim to assess reports on the implementation of action plans with dialogue partners./.
By Quang Minh
