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Urgent: China urges ASEAN to seek "common ground" amid South China Sea tension

Xinhua, November 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday called on ASEAN nations to seek common ground with China and set aside differences amid territory disputes in the South China Sea.

Addressing the China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, Li said freedom of navigation in the South China Sea in line with international laws had never been hindered and that his country was willing to quickly conclude with ASEAN countries the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea on the basis of consensus.

"In recent years, the South China Sea disputes, which should have been addressed by directly concerned countries through negotiation and talks, have been played up to become a problem concerning the South China Sea's peace and stability and the freedom of navigation," Li said, adding that some countries outside the region are conducting high-profile intervention.

"That is in nobody's interest," said the premier.

"Only by expanding our common interests and seeking common ground can we narrow our differences," Li added. Endi