China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have successfully maintained peace and stability in the South China Sea through joint efforts over the years, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday on the sidelines of the ASEAN-China meeting in Manila.
The foreign ministers of China and ASEAN countries endorsed the framework of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea on Saturday.
Wang hailed the achievement of a "very good foundation" for substantive consultation between the two sides in the future.
China and ASEAN countries started negotiations for a COC 15 years ago. The framework was agreed upon in May during a senior officials' meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in Guiyang, southwestern China's Guizhou Province.
Under the agreement, all parties are obliged to reach a final COC to build a South China Sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.
"We believe that China and ASEAN should cherish the important progress that has been achieved through joint efforts and send a positive signal to the outside world together," he said. "This is the most important consensus we have reached."
The ASEAN will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Tuesday. Wang reaffirmed China's support for the integration of the ASEAN and the building of the ASEAN Community and congratulated the organization for its 50th birthday.
"We support the ASEAN to continue to play a central role in regional cooperation," he added.
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