KUALA LUMPUR: The Philippines will continue pushing for the conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea when it hosts the Asean Summits next year, said its president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
"Well, we have been pushing for that even not as a host (of Asean), but we will continue to do that," said Marcos when met by reporters after attending the 28th Asean Plus Three (APT) Summit at KL Convention Centre on Monday (Oct 27).
Marcos said the issue of South China Sea was discussed, among a slew of other issues such as strengthening supply chains among Asean with China, Japan, and South Korea.
"We did not discuss the South China Sea specifically. What we did discuss though, were efforts that we have to make to integrate all Asean nations and the other three nations (China, Japan, South Korea).
"This is to build up our supply lines, training and people-to-people exchanges," he said.
At the same time, Marcos said he is grateful to Asean members that have contributed to the emergency rice reserve.
"So these are the things to strengthen the relationship between the three countries and Asean.
"I think we found some very specific and concrete ways that we can do that (contribute)."
In Oct 24, the Philippines Foreign Affairs Ministry said Manila is hoping to conclude the COC when it hosts the Asean Summit next year.
The proposed COC builds on the 2002 Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea, where several states are locked in a maritime dispute.
Malaysia is expected to handover the chairmanship baton to Marcos during the last day of the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits on Oct 28.
In March this year, it was reported that the second reading of the COC was completed and it is now into the third reading.
The South China Sea has been a contentious issue in the region after China claims nearly the entire region, despite overlapping maritime claims by Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei.
