Southeast Asia making good progress on South China Sea conduct code: Thailand
BANGKOK - Southeast Asian nations vowed on Saturday to fight against plastic pollution in the ocean, as their leaders adopted a joint declaration during a summit in Bangkok.
ASEAN members Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, along with worst offender China, throw the most plastic waste into oceans, according to a 2015 report co-authored by environmental campaigner Ocean Conservancy. The 10 ASEAN countries vow to “strengthen actions at the national level as well as through collaborative actions...to prevent and significantly reduce marine debris,” according to the official document seen by Reuters.
The declaration came ahead of next week’s G20 summit in Japan, which assembles 20 major economies and will also aim to tackle marine plastic pollution.The China-originated Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership pact was expected to be finalised this year, Werachon said. “This mechanism will strengthen ASEAN economically and can be linked up with other regional economic cooperation frameworks.”
However, the issue was discussed by the foreign ministers earlier on Saturday. Thailand’s foreign ministry spokeswoman said the countries made progress on a Code of Conduct negotiating draft for the disputed South China Sea and likely will finish a first reading by the end of this year.
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