THE ASSOCIATION of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China will start talks as early as January preparatory to drafting a binding document governing activities in the South China Sea, an official said yesterday.
“A meeting between ASEAN and China will be held by January to identify the main elements in crafting the Code of Conduct (COC),” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda F. Basilio said in a hearing of the Senate foreign relations committee.
“The meeting is scheduled by the first week or second week of January,” she added.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario earlier said that ASEAN members have agreed to draft a more binding document to guide activities in the contested area that will be presented to senior ministers in July 2012.
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