The Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea was held, and China and ASEAN will reach a code of conduct in the South China Sea as soon as possible

On September 13, 2024, China and ASEAN countries held the 22nd Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in Xi'an. The Director-General of the Border and Maritime Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hong Liang, and the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Amran, co-chaired the meeting, attended by senior officials and representatives of ASEAN countries. China and ASEAN countries agreed that it is of great significance to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, and called for strengthening dialogue, exercising restraint, properly handling differences, enhancing mutual trust, and maintaining the stability of the maritime situation. All parties fully affirmed the positive progress and good momentum achieved since the launch of the third reading of the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea", and agreed to accelerate consultations in a flexible and innovative manner, so as to strive for an early conclusion of