Foreign ministers of ASEAN member states reiterated the importance of finalizing a code of conduct (CoC) in the effort to settle the So uth China Sea dispute.

"ASEAN needs to focus on strengthening the elements of the CoC framework," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the ASEAN Summit in Manila last week.

ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh said a maritime CoC between Southeast Asia and China m