On 13 September 2024, Mr. Bolbongse Vangphaen, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, attended the 22nd ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (SOM-DOC) in Xi’an, People’s Republic of China.

The meeting discussed the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), particularly the promotion of practical maritime cooperation. The meeting was reported on the Track 1.5 Workshop on Marine Envinromental Protection (MEP) in the South China Sea hosted by Thailand on 16 – 17 May 2024 in Bangkok.

Furthermore, the meeting welcomed progress made in the negotiation of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (COC) and the approaches to make further headway towards its early conclusion.