China, ASEAN have confidence in keeping peace in South China Sea

BEIJING - China and the ASEAN have both confidence and ability to safeguard the peace and stability in the South China Sea and boost regional development and prosperity, Vice-Foreign Minister Fu Ying said Saturday.

China has maintained close communication with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states on the establishment of a code of conduct in the South China Sea, she said.

China holds an open attitude toward discussions on establishing the code of conduct, she said while briefing the media on Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming attendance at a series of meetings for East Asian leaders.

Meanwhile, China is committed to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), according to Fu.

"China has a persistent and clear stance on the sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters," Fu said. "We always hold that disputes in the South China Sea should be resolved peacefully via negotiations and consultations."

Fu urged all relevant parties to maintain restraint and avoid actions that undermine peace and stability in the region.

Through many rounds of dialogue, China and the ASEAN member states have arrived at the consensus that the South China Sea issue should be discussed under the China-ASEAN cooperation framework, she said.

"As the forthcoming ASEAN summits will serve as a platform for nations in the region to deepen mutual trust and strengthen cooperation, we hope countries at the meetings can focus on the issues of development and cooperation instead of getting off the right rail," Fu said.

China and the ASEAN have the confidence and ability to safeguard the peace and stability in the South China Sea and boost regional development and prosperity, according to the vice minister.

The series of meetings for East Asian leaders will be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from Nov 18-21. The meetings include the 15th summit between China and the ASEAN, as well as the 15th summit between the ASEAN, China, Japan and the ROK and the 7th East Asia Summit.