China is determined to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the crafting of a framework for the code of conduct for claimants in the South China Sea dispute. Zhao said China is looking forward to the first meeting in bilateral mechanism for the South China Sea row in May. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua relayed the message to President Duterte during their meeting in Davao City last Monday, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. “His excellency Zhao expressed China’s determination to work with ASEAN member states in finalizing the Code of Conduct Framework on the South China Sea middle of this year,” Abella said in a statement.

Romero, A., Laude, J., & Romero, P. (2017, March 29). China to work with Asean on sea code. The Philippine Star, p. 9.