Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

In a joint statement, China's foreign minister, along with his counterparts from ASEAN members, have reaffirmed their efforts to promote peace, stability, mutual trust and confidence in the South China Sea. Officials attending the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting have spoken highly of it.

"The joint statement issued after the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting points out that the countries should fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. This shows the importance of negotiating and solving the South China Sea issue through peaceful means, so as to promote cooperation in various fields in the region. China realized that it has reached a consensus with ASEAN and also admitted that ASEAN members have played an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region," Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said.

"We believe that the open issue should be solved in the peaceful manner, in a direct dialogue of parties affected. And we are pleased by the joint communique that was achieved yesterday, in the meeting between the ASEAN members states and the People's Republic of China. We believe that this is a step in the right direction, and we really believe that in this period the process will continue in the future," Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said.