Boao forum participants call for cooperation in South China Sea

BOAO, Hainan, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Participants of the ongoing Boao Forum in south China's Hainan Province on Thursday called for dialogue and cooperation in the South China Sea.

More than 100 experts, diplomats and government officials from over 20 countries and regions attended a session concerning the South China Sea.

Nong Rong, assistant minister of foreign affairs of China, said in a written statement that the South China Sea is the common home of the countries in the region and, over the years, these countries have developed effective practices and experience in managing disputes, enhancing mutual trust and promoting cooperation.

Countries in the region have fully and effectively implemented the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and continued to advance consultations on the text of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, creating a strengthened and upgraded version of the rules governing the maritime region, Nong said.

Think tanks in countries in the region could join hands to conduct dialogues and pragmatic cooperation on issues concerning the South China Sea, including marine environmental protection, marine scientific research, and maritime security and rescue work, said Liu Zhenmin, former UN under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs.

Wu Shicun, chairman of the council of the China-Southeast Asia Research Center on the South China Sea, said that China and ASEAN countries should accelerate the implementation of pragmatic maritime cooperation under the framework of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and accelerate consultations on the text of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

Li Guoping, an official with the Ministry of Transport, called on all countries bordering the South China Sea to work together to ensure maritime transport security.