China, ASEAN make great strides in building community with shared future

SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ESTABLISHING REGIONAL RULES

The year 2019 has witnessed crucial achievements in China and ASEAN countries' endeavors to properly manage their differences and establish regional rules, particularly in the South China Sea issue.

Apart from working to comprehensively and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), China and ASEAN member states have spared no efforts in pushing forward consultations on the widely-anticipated Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), an upgraded and strengthened version of the DOC.

In August this year, they finished the first reading of the Single Draft Negotiating Text of the COC ahead of schedule, and the second reading is underway, with China proposing to conclude the COC talks within three years.

With the improving situation in the South China Sea, China and ASEAN have been better positioned to carry out more maritime cooperation, such as scientific investigations, crackdowns on maritime crimes and search and rescue operations. The two sides have successfully held maritime exercises twice and are actively discussing the institutionalization of maritime exercises and meetings between defense ministers.

By making continuous progress in the COC consultations, China and ASEAN countries have demonstrated that they are fully capable of settling disputes, formulating regional rules and safeguarding regional peace and prosperity by themselves.