China, ASEAN to meet on DOC implementation

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet in Yangon, Myanmar, to discuss the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in late March.

The meeting, slated for March 30 to 31, is the 13th joint working group meeting on the implementation of the DOC between China and the ASEAN, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

China attaches great importance to the meeting and will exchange views with other participants on fully and effectively implementing the DOC, promoting maritime practical cooperation and the consultation on compilation of the Code of Conduct (COC), she said.

Officials and experts will also meet on navigation safety and joint search and rescue, she said.