Consultations on Code of Conduct in South China Sea to start in March

Beijing. February 15. Silkroadnews - China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will start consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in early March, Xinhua reports.
China’s Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou and Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Enrique Manalo held the second meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea in Manila.
“With the objective of maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the region, both sides discussed ways to manage and prevent incidents at sea, promote dialogue and cooperation on maritime issues, and enhance mutual trust and confidence,” the statement issued after the meeting said.
“Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace and stability, freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, freedom of international commerce and other peaceful uses of the sea, addressing territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force,” the statement said.
The two sides also agreed to continue discussion of confidence-building measures to strengthen mutual trust and confidence and exercise self-restraint in activities in the South China Sea that would complicate or strengthen disputes and affect peace and stability.
The third meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea will be held in China in the second half of 2018.