ASEAN, China hold informal consultation on COC

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Fu Ying co-chaired the event during which ASEAN introduced the draft COC to Chinese counterparts.

This is the first time, ASEAN and China have held an informal consultation since the two sides agreed to adopt a more legally binding COC for the East Sea at the 20^th ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in April 2012.

The COC is a step forward to legalize the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) reached by ASEAN and China in 2002.

The ASEAN-China Informal Consultation on the COC is part of a series of meetings, including the 45^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and 19^th ASEAN Regional Forum./.

By Hai Minh