China and ASEAN countries say their consultation on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea has entered a new stage. Further maritime cooperation was mapped out when senior officials from the foreign ministries met for the 10th time in Southwest China's Chengdu city.
Coming together to begin the South China Sea discussion. And China and ASEAN officials agree, they are in a new phase in their consultations for a Code of Conduct.
"This meeting discussed and formulated two preliminary documents, namely, the list of crucial and complex issues and the list of elements for the outline of a COC. The meeting mandated the Joint Working Group to further review and study the two lists," Chinese vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin said.
The officials identified three areas to pursue work in further implementing their Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea, which was signed in 2002.
Maritime cooperation is one major area, as meeting co-chair Singapore highlighted.
This is the year of China-ASEAN cooperation. Participants agreed to have greater cooperation on navigation safety, search and rescue, marine scientific research and environmental protection, as well as combating transnational crimes at sea.
China is continuing its construction on its islands there.
The US made plans to carry out naval patrols in waters off China's islands.
Amid disputes, China says the South China Sea issues don't represent the entire picture of relations with ASEAN.
"The South China Sea issue is just between China and some ASEAN nations, but not China and the whole of ASEAN. The issues are just local problems in the broader China-ASEAN cooperation, but not the whole of the relationship between China and ASEAN," Liu said.
During the meeting, parties reiterated the common political will to fully and effectively implement the DOC and work toward the early conclusion of a COC on the basis of consensus and stated that continued efforts will be made to enhance maritime practical cooperation, strengthen mutual trust, properly handle differences and commit to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace,friendship and cooperation.