MOSCOW (Sputnik) – "Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines and Vietnam are fully committed to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties (DoC) in the South China Sea," Anifah was quoted as saying by The Star.
He said that this week’s meeting of Chinese senior officials with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gave way to the next stage of negotiations in establishing the CoC.
The 10 foreign ministers of ASEAN kick off their 48th meeting on Saturday.
Four of the six nations that lay claim to portions of the South China Sea are members of the regional political, cultural and economic alliance.
The South China Sea dispute centers on the Spratly Islands, a group of more than 750 islands and reefs, where China has been constructing artificial islands, some with defense facilities, over the past few months.
Last week, the Chinese navy launched 10-day military exercises in the waters of the South China Sea near eastern Hainan Island.
Beijing’s pursuit of the South China Sea and reclamation projects in the Spratly Islands has led to deteriorating relations with the United States and its close regional ally Japan.
