Jakarta, Jan. 30 -- The Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reaffirmed their commitment to completing negotiations on a Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea by 2026.

"We will endeavour to conclude the negotiation of an effective and substantive COC that is in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS, within 2026," stated a press release from the 2026 ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMM Retreat) on Friday.

The statement underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety. It also noted that ASEAN welcomed the progress achieved in ongoing CoC negotiations....