REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo has urged the ASEAN member countries and China to find ways to achieve peace in South China Sea at the 19th ASEAN-China Summit in Vientiane, Laos on Wednesday.

The president said the partnership between ASEAN and China should be able to realize peace, stability and security in South China Sea.

"The partnership between ASEAN and China has to be able to attain peace, stability and security in South China Sea by respecting the international law," the president asserted.

President Joko Widodo argued that the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) should be implemented fully and effectively.

"The Code of Conduct should be completed soon because the South China Sea territory is not an area for muscle flexing by big powers," he added.

The president welcomed and supported the implementation of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) in the South China Sea and a hotline for communication among the high-level officials related to the maritime emergency response in South China Sea.

"I am sure that the implementation of CUES and setting up of a hotline will contribute to peace, security, and stability in South China Sea," the president underlined.

The president also encouraged ASEAN and China to promote stability and security along the main sea lane in the region.

Therefore, according to him, the related states should start implementing the EAS (East Asia Summit) Statement on Enhancing Regional Maritime Cooperation, which was agreed upon in 2015.

"This is important in order to enhance the level of trust among the countries in the region," the president reasoned.

This year, ASEAN and China are commemorating the 25th anniversary of partnership as China became an ASEAN dialogue partner in 1991.

In the future, the president stressed, ASEAN and China should prioritize balanced and mutually beneficial economic relations.

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