25 Years ASEAN, China Relations To Complete COC

VIENTIANE, Laos, Sep 8 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo asserted the importance of the 25th anniversary commemoration of ASEAN-China relationship as a moment to complete the Code of Conduct (COC) on South China Sea dispute. The statement was delivered by the president at the 25th commemmoration of ASEAN-China relationship in Vientiane, Laos on Wednesday. "ASEAN and China should be able to contribute to peace and stability in the region in order to maintain security in South China Sea," the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, said. The minister said President's statement has positively been responded by the Chinese government. "The COC will be an instrumental amplifier for maintaining security, stability and peace in the South China Sea according to the international law, including UNCLOS 1982," the minister said. In addition, President Joko Widodo also stressed the importance of settlement of disputes with peaceful ways and the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct by the parties involved in the South China Sea dispute in full and effectively towards the settlement in the negotiations. The completion and implementation of COC in the South China Sea is expected to support efforts to maintain stability in the region, which also supports the economic growth of ASEAN and China. Stability is indispensable for the region's economy, moreover the value of trade between ASEAN and China has reached US$364.4 billion. ASEAN has made China the largest trade partner and the fourth biggest partner in Foreign Direct Investment with an investment of US$8.2 billion. In the 25th commemoration of ASEAN-China Relations Summit, President Joko Widodo and other ASEAN leaders and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang agree on two documents. They is a joint statement about the application of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) in the South China Sea and the implementation guide of Communication Hotline among the high-level officials of Foreign Affairs Ministries of ASEAN and China in implementing the DOC.