Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn. Photo: Dao Trang/VNA

Mr. Kao Kim Hourn mentioned the ongoing negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and said that ASEAN is considering how to manage the situation in the South China Sea. Regarding the settlement of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Mr. Kao Kim Hourn stated that the member states of the association have unity, a common voice and are working on the basis of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), although he acknowledged that the negotiation process with China on the COC may take time, and mentioned the importance of bilateral negotiations on this issue.

Mr. Kao Kim Hourn is on his first official visit to India from February 11-15 as Secretary-General of ASEAN. The visit underscores the importance of ASEAN-India relations and highlights the multifaceted cooperation between the two sides in various areas, including strategic partnership, education and culture.