29 April 2016 – Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States, including Philippine Foreign Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo (5th from right), and China met in Singapore on April 27-28 for the 11th ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (SOM-DOC) and the 22nd ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Consultations (ACSOC).
At the SOM-DOC, the Senior Officials discussed ongoing efforts related to the full and effective implementation of the DOC, including early harvest measures, projects, seminars and workshops, and exchanged views on how to expedite the ongoing consultations towards the conclusion of an effective and meaningful Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. They also exchanged views on the current situation in the South China Sea.
At the ACSOC, the Senior Officials reviewed the current state of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations and discussed preparations for the ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit in September in Vientiane, Lao PDR to mark the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China partnership. They also discussed potential deliverables, including outcome documents and commemorative activities, to ensure the success of the Commemorative Summit. They recognized that the ASEAN-China strategic partnership is broad and dynamic and continues to grow, benefiting both sides. China reiterated its support for the role of ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture and for ASEAN community building efforts as embodied in the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
While recognising that differences existed on some issues, Senior Officials agreed that it is important to strengthen and deepen ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations.
They agreed to continue to foster opportunities for dialogue and communication between ASEAN and China, including through the SOM-DOC and ACSOC processes. This will help to promote mutual understanding, and create an environment of peace, stability and trust that is a precondition to the further development of ASEAN-China relations in its next 25 years. END