Asean hopes China's stand on the Code of Conduct (COC) could be translated into the latter's willingness to enter into negotiation with the grouping for settling longstanding overlapping claims in the South China Sea, Premier Najib Abdul Razak said tonight.

The prime minister said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao indicated during the East Summit here today, the COC was a logical extension of the DOC (Document of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea).

The first building block approach would be whenever China is ready to discuss COC, the mechanism in implementing the DOC signed between Asean and China in 2002.

"After that, there will be the beginning of the complex part of the negotiation, trying to negotiate for the settlement of the areas," Najib told the Malaysian media at the end of the three-day 21st Asean Summits and Related Summits in Phnom Penh.

"If we can get China to begin formal discussion with Asean on COC, it will be a positive move in the right direction and a very strong confidence building move that we will work towards," he said.

The six claimants of the South China Sea or part of it are China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia.

The issue has been one of the hottest topics in the region as tensions had sometimes flared between some of the claimants.

Complex issue

Najib said the four Asean member countries would enter the negotiation as a group but negotiation on the claimant would be on individual state basis.

He said the issue was very complex and needed some time to be resolved, and all countries without exception, wanted peace, stability and continued prosperity in this region.

"We should manage the issue in a very rational way. We should not heighten tension. We should not do anything to exacerbate the problem. If we proceed in a very constructive way, then complex issues can be managed and resolved," he said.

On the overall atmosphere during the EAS discussion on the issue, Najib said: "I think it was quite calm. The meeting was not tense. There were some differences of opinions.

"Overall, the objective was clear, and EAS should be a forum to strengthen our cooperation and collaboration," he said. EAS consists of 10 Asean member countries, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand, United States and Russia.

Touching on the just-concluded Asean Summit and Related Summits, Najib said he was satisfied with their outcomes.

He said notable outcomes included the adoption of the Asean Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the Asean-China Joint Statement on the 10th Anniversary of the DOC which reaffirmed both sides' commitment to amicably address the dispute in the South China Sea.

Najib said the elevation of Asean-US relationship from dialogue to strategic partnership was also another important outcome.

Brunei will hold the Asean chairmanship next year.

- Bernama