Asean ministers to push for solution at Beijing meeting

Asean ministers to push for solution at Beijing meeting

Published on Thursday, 15 August 2013 12:19

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation 

Hua Hin - Asean will collectively push ahead for the "early conclusion" to a code of conduct in the South China Sea when ministers and officials of both sides meet late this month and next month.

Asean foreign ministers met on Wednesday in Hua Hin for informal talks to prepare for a special meeting commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Asean-China Strategic Partnership in Beijing on August 28-30.

The meeting in Beijing would take stock of the partnership's relations over the past decade, and look to the future to seek a permanent solution to the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, said Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul.

Ministers of ASEAN emphasised the importance of the group speaking in one voice and coordinating their stance when they have meetings with China, he said.

The ministerial meeting in Beijing would focus not only on the issue of the South China Sea, but also on many other aspects of the cooperation and relations of ASEAN and China.

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