Thai newspaper The Nation quoted Thailand’s ASEAN Affairs Department's Director General Suriya Chindawongse as saying both sides have agreed to have a single negotiation text for the first time, adding the process would take time to reach a conclusion.

China’s Ambassador to ASEAN, Huang Xilian, said since the COC has not yet been reached, China and ASEAN will continue to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and endeavor to reach a COC at an early date.

ASEAN and China signed a non-binding DOC in 2002 but the document failed to prevent conflict and tension. Both sides are in the process of drawing up a COC as a legally binding instrument to control the behavior of countries in the East Sea.