S. China Sea disputes among issues discussed between Chinese PM, ASEAN

World Today

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, center, joins hands with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the beginning of the 17th ASEAN-China Summit at Myanmar International Convention Center in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014.

China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang met with regional Asian leaders on Thursday in the Myanmar capital of Naypyitaw.

Among issues raised at the 17th ASEAN-China summit was the contentious matter of disputes over the ownership of islands in the South China Sea.

Li told the gathered leaders that China’s wish is for the South China Sea to become “a peaceful sea, the world’s sea of friendship, humanity’s sea of cooperation.”

The meeting restated the long expressed desire for all parties to work towards the conclusion of a code of conduct to avoid trouble in the resource-rich area.

China and a number of other countries claim the islands, leading to growing fears of military clashes in the area, there have been a number of incidents where ships squared off against each other.

Story by Associated Press.