VN strives to accelerate real talks on COC

VGP – As an active and responsible member of ASEAN and the international community, Viet Nam is striving to work with ASEAN countries and China to accelerate real talks for early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

April 20, 2017 3:46 PM GMT+7

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang made the above statement at a press conference on Thursday.

Senior officials of ASEAN and China may organize a meeting this May to discuss on possible elements of a binding COC, according to Philippine acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Hang said ASEAN and China have agreed to soon reach the COC in a bid to ensure peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea and to create a legal environment conducive to settlement of disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of the recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea./.

By Kim Anh