China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will start consultations on the text of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here on Monday, XINHUANET reports.
Li made the remarks when attending the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting in the Philippine capital Manila.
China hopes that the COC could be adopted at an early date and could serve as a "stabilizer" of peace in the South China Sea, the Chinese premier said.
China, which has most of its freight of foreign trade passing through the South China Sea, wants peace and stability for that area more than any other country, Li noted.
The Chinese premier said his country is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea and resolving territorial and maritime rights disputes with parties directly involved through negotiations and in a peaceful manner.
Such a stance would never change, he added.
At the ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings in August, China and ASEAN countries drew up and approved the framework of the COC, saying they would initiate substantive consultations on the code's text within the year.
Li arrived in the Philippines on Sunday for an official visit to the country and for a series of leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation.
In Manila, he will also attend the 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting, as well as the 12th East Asia Summit.