The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have agreed on a proposal to prevent conflict in the disputed South China Sea. The foreign ministers from the 10-member ASEAN group met in Singapore to discuss territorial issues, trade and security.

Four of the 10 nations in ASEAN have territorial claims to parts of the South China Sea, which is important to world trade and holds valuable natural resources. China, however, claims nearly the whole area as its own territory. Taiwan, which is not an ASEAN member, also claims parts of the sea.

China and ASEAN have been negotiating a “code of conduct” for the disputed waterway for years. The goal is to reduce tensions and increase cooperation on issues linked to the waterway.

ASEAN member states and China agreed on a negotiating text for a code of conduct at a meeting in Changsha, China on June 27, the meeting’s final statement said.

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that the proposal was a “milestone.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said approval of the proposal was “good news” and a “breakthrough.”

Aliqismet BADALOV,
“Khalq qazeti”