(VOVworld) – ASEAN senior officials have proposed that the Code of Conduct in the East Sea should be discussed at the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 48) scheduled for August.

Defense Minister Hussein: Malaysia calls for reaching an agreement on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. (Photo: AP)

Secretary General of the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, Othman Hashim, made the statement on Monday adding that other suggestions include turning the region into a nuclear-weapon-free zone and proposals to add Norway and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as ASEAN dialogue partners.

Delegates to the AMM 48 will debate a protocol on the treaty on the Southeast Asian nuclear-weapon-free zone that has taken effect since 1997 and look for support from the bloc’s dialogue partners to maintain protocols and restrain nuclear weapon manufacturers and buyers. 

As scheduled, ASEAN senior officials and representatives from ASEAN’s dialogue partners - China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea - met in Kuching, Malaysia on Tuesday to prepare for the AMM and other functions.