On May 17, 2023, China and ASEAN countries held the 20th Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in Ha Long city of Vietnam. The meeting was co-chaired by the senior Chinese official Hong Liang, Director-General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, and Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Myanmar Chan Aye. Senior officials from ASEAN countries for the Implementation of the DOC attended the meeting.

The meeting was held in a candid, friendly and pragmatic atmosphere. The parties had an in-depth exchange of views on issues such as the full and effective implementation of the DOC, practical maritime cooperation, and consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). All parties agreed that maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea is of great practical significance, and all should continue to implement the DOC fully and effectively, strengthen dialogue, exercise restraint, enhance mutual trust, and deepen cooperation in marine environmental protection, scientific research, search and rescue, law enforcement and other fields, so as to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.

All parties spoke highly of the positive progress achieved in and good momentum of the consultations on the COC, and agreed to speed up consultations and finish the second reading of the draft negotiating text within the year.

The meeting adopted a work plan for the implementation of the DOC in 2023.