Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China has proposed a three-step vision to step up consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, as he and his ASEAN counterparts approved a COC framework in the Philippine capital of Manila on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a regional meeting, Wang said that there had been "really tangible progress" made between China and ASEAN member countries towards settling disputes in the South China Sea as all sides agreed on a framework of how they will draft the code, and all sides needed to cherish that momentum.
Wang said the framework of COC has laid a solid foundation for further negotiation and China has raised "three steps" on the negotiation process, which has gained warm support from ASEAN countries.
The first step is to initiate the substantive consultation within a year, after all necessary preparatory work is done.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to reporters on the sidelines of a regional meeting on Aug. 6, 2017. /CGTN Photo
By the end of this month during the Joint Working Group Meeting on the implementation of the Declaration of Code of Conduct (DOC), all the parties will discuss the thinking, principle and plan for the next stage COC consultation, Wang said.
The third step comes as leaders from China and ASEAN countries will officially announce the start of the next step to negotiate on the text of the COC in November this year during the China-ASEAN Leaders' Summit at Clark in the Philippine province of Pampanga.
However, Wang noted that the start of consultation should be held when the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable, with no major disruptions from outside parties.
The consensus reached between China and ASEAN countries on "three steps" has again shown our capability to handle differences, and together maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea area, Wang noted.
He also hailed China-ASEAN relations – which have entered the phase of comprehensive and sustainable development. Wang said this year's China-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting has deepened consensus and enhanced mutual understanding, trust and friendship.
Wang arrived in the Philippine capital of Manila on Saturday for meetings with his counterparts from the Southeast Asian bloc.
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