CHINA, ASEAN AGREE TO START COC CONSULTATIONS
China and ASEAN said at the 20th ASEAN-China leaders summit that they would start negotiating details of a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.
In a chairman's statement, ASEAN and China said both sides agreed to "officially commence substantive negotiations on the text of the COC" after foreign ministers of ASEAN and China adopted in August the Framework of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
The framework will serve as the basis for the COC talks next year when the joint working group and senior officials sit down to negotiate the text.
"We look forward to subsequent convening of the 23rd ASEAN-China joint working group meeting on the implementation of the DOC in Vietnam in early 2018," the statement read, referring to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea that ASEAN and China inked in 2002.
China and ASEAN also agreed to cooperate in maintaining peace, stability and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea.
Also at the ASEAN-China summit, China reaffirmed its support for ASEAN to attain its plan to become a full-fledged economic community. Leaders said at the summit that the strategic partnership between ASEAN and China "has grown rapidly to become one of ASEAN's most substantive dialogue partners."
As strategic partners, the leaders said ASEAN and China continue to further deepen cooperation in all areas in the EAS, ASEAN Regional Forum and ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus.
China remains ASEAN's largest trading partner, according to the statement. Moreover, China continued to be ASEAN's fourth largest external sources of foreign direct investment (FDI).
China and ASEAN also vowed to further deepen their cooperation on infrastructure connectivity.
"There is great potential for further deepening the cooperation on infrastructure connectivity which would significantly facilitate the development of economic and trade relations, crucial support for realizing the sustainable development goal, as well as new boost into global and regional economic development," the leaders said.
Both sides are looking at potential projects in areas such as railways, highways, port and harbors, airports, power, and communications, for better business and investment environment, vowing to support ongoing efforts to explore synergies between ASEAN's master plan of connectivity with that of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
ASEAN, DIALOGUE COUNTRIES VOW TO ENHANCE COOPERATION
In view of the large potential of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to promote global trade and growth, ASEAN and dialogue countries urged RCEP participating countries "to exercise their best endeavour to swiftly and successfully achieve a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually-beneficial RCEP agreement."
Ten ASEAN leaders and their six trading partners - Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand - have reaffirmed their commitment to wrap up the 16-nation regional trade pact by next year.
At their first ever RCEP summit, the 16 RCEP leaders discussed the way forward for the earnest conclusion of RCEP talks.
