KOTA KINABALU: The Asean Foreign Ministers, who ended their retreat here today, have reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in South China Sea, where China and several Asean countries are involved in territorial disputes.
In this context, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said that the retreat shared the concern raised by some Asean Foreign Ministers on land reclamation in the South China Sea.
However, Anifah who chaired the retreat did not named those ministers who have raised their concern regarding the matter.
“The ministers instructed senior officials to intensify efforts towards achieving the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC),” he said.
Anifah said they also instructed the officials to work vigorously towards the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).--Benama