Phnom Penh (FN), Oct 14, 2016 – At the conclusion China’s president Xi Jinping’s two-day visit, Cambodia and China issued a 12-point joint statement that talks mostly on strengthening bilateral relation and future development cooperation. However, the statement also emphasizes their common position in regard of the South China Seas issue.

“Both sides are of the view that the South China Sea issue is not a problem of China and ASEAN. It should be resolved through friendly consultation and peaceful negotiation by directly concerned sovereign nations,” reads the joint statement issued today, October 14, 2016 by Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

"China and ASEAN should continue to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and promote an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea on the basis of mutual consensus through consultation,” the joint statement says.

At the same time, according to the statement, China and ASEAN should actively push forward the pragmatic cooperation and jointly maintain peace and stability in South China Sea to make it a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.

It should be recalled that South China Sea disputes between China and four ASEAN member states become heated over the last few years after China constructed an artificial island in the middle of the sea as a military base.