ASEAN to negotiate South China Sea code of conduct

China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said on Monday they would begin talks on details of a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

Premier Li Keqiang made the proposal at the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting in Manila on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said.

Late on Monday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, ASEAN's rotating chairman this year, said the organization agreed to start the talks on the code of conduct, presidential spokesman Harry Roque told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.