Philippine official: ASEAN, China make progress on COC
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have made progress in their talks on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, Philippine Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo said.
Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo. (Source: //globalnation.inquirer.net)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have made progress in their talks ona Code of Conduct in the East Sea, Philippine Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs EnriqueManalo said on April 4.
Manalo said ASEAN has made good progress oncoming up with a framework for a Code of Conduct with China, adding that ASEANand China were more than halfway through identifying the COC’s contents.
The official also revealed that Manila wouldhold talks with Beijing next month to tackle issues of concern regarding theEast Sea.
Negotiators from China and ASEAN have met inIndonesia and Cambodia in the last two months to try to come up with a finaldraft. The document could be approved ahead of a meeting of ASEAN foreignministers in Manila in August.
ASEAN and China started negotiations on the COCin 2010. The two sides are expected to complete the COC framework draft in mid2017.-VNA
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Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo. (Source: //globalnation.inquirer.net) 
