China, ASEAN to discuss stability in South China Sea

China said on Thursday it is willing to make joint efforts with ASEAN countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and bring benefits to the people in the region.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin made the comments in response to a question about the upcoming fourth meeting of senior officials from China and 10 ASEAN nations at a regular press conference.

According to Liu, the upcoming meeting is scheduled to be held in Beijing from Jan. 13 to 15. Attendees to the meeting will review the implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct in the South China Sea (DOC) and exchange views on the promotion of pragmatic cooperation under the framework of the DOC.

In July 2011, China and ASEAN nations reached a consensus on implementing the guidelines of the DOC.

In December 2011, a series of seminars on South China Sea oceanography and navigation freedom and security were successfully held in China, and pragmatic cooperation began under the framework of the DOC.

Liu said China has also established a 3-billion-yuan China-ASEAN maritime cooperation fund to promote the implementation of the DOC.

The year 2012 is the 10th anniversary of the signing of the DOC, which was signed by China and the ASEAN countries in November 2002 as a code of conduct for all parties involved in diplomatic issues of the South China Sea.