China and the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have agreed on the rough outline of a legally binding code of conduct designed to prevent clashes in the strategic South China Sea, officials said on Friday. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin was quoted in state media as saying the agreement laid a “solid foundation” for further negotiations. The Philippines welcomed the finalization of the draft of the framework. It contains elements that the parties agreed upon and will be presented to Chinese and Asean foreign ministers in August for consideration, the statement from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said.

CHINA-ASEAN code of conduct nears: rough outline of legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea drafted, to be presented to foreign ministers for consideration in August. (2017, May 20). Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A2.