ASEAN, 皇冠体育app vow to maintain stability in S 皇冠体育app Sea
Updated: 2013-10-10 03:18



BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - ASEAN and 皇冠体育app reaffirmed here on Wednesday the importance of maintaining peace, stability and maritime security in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, pledging to ensure a full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South 皇冠体育app Sea (DOC).
In the Chairman's Statement of the 23rd ASEAN Summit issued here Wednesday, ASEAN said "We reaffirmed the collective commitments under the DOC to ensuring the resolution of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, without resorting to the threat or use of force, while exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities."
The statement said ASEAN looked forward to intensifying official consultations with 皇冠体育app on the development of the Code of Conduct in the South 皇冠体育app Sea (COC) with a view to its early conclusion.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday at the 16th ASEAN- 皇冠体育app Summit here that "We must not let the question of the South 皇冠体育app Sea affect the overall 皇冠体育app-ASEAN relations."
"We all agree that disputes in the South 皇冠体育app Sea should be addressed through consultation and negotiation between parties directly concerned. 皇冠体育app and ASEAN countries should work together to maintain peace and stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea and jointly foster a favorable and more enabling environment for peaceful settlement of the disputes. Pending a settlement, parties to the dispute should work actively for joint development," said Li.
The Chinese premier said the DOC, as an important political agreement reached between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN countries, constitutes the cornerstone for peace and stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.
He said 皇冠体育app will continue to have consultations with ASEAN countries on formulating the COC under the framework of implementing the DOC, and will work with ASEAN countries to advance the formulation process of the COC in an active and prudent manner under the principle of consensus building.