Asia-Pacific

Cambodia opposes to internationalize issue of South China Sea

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-28 21:49

PHNOM PENH - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged the parties concerned to strictly abide by the code of conduct in the South China Sea, warning against internationalizing the issue of South China Sea, a senior official said on Thursday.

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Hun Sen told the visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday that Cambodia wants to carry out the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China on November 4, 2002, Khieu Kanharith, information minister and government spokesman, told reporters at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

Hun Sen stressed that the parties concerned should use existing mechanisms to solve the problem through consultation and should not try to put pressure on China allying with the United States or Japan, Khieu said.

"Cambodian government does not want to see any conflict on the issue of South China Sea," Khieu added.

The Declaration was signed at the end of the sixth China-ASEAN Summit (10+1) held in Phnom Penh in 2002 with an aim to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

In the declaration, China and ASEAN recognized the need to promote a peaceful, friendly and harmonious environment in the South China Sea for the enhancement of peace, stability, economic growth and prosperity in the region.

Ban Ki-moon, who paid a three-day official visit to Cambodia, left here on Thursday afternoon for Hanoi where he will attend the Asean-UN Summit.