Ten years after an illegal tribunal ruling, the South China Sea dispute remains unresolved and tensions are rising.

China and ASEAN are racing to finalize a long-awaited Code of Conduct. Could a deal really be within reach?

In an exclusive interview with CGTN, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn breaks down where the negotiations stand: from aligning the Code of Conduct with international law, to his vision of turning the South China Sea into a "sea of peace, friendship and cooperation."

Watch the full interview to hear his answer.