All conflicting parties must benefit from the declaration of conduct (DOC) for all parties in the South China Sea, the President said after receiving an honoris causa doctorate from the Tsinghua University in Beijing on Friday (March 23).
The South China Sea includes a group of islands called the Spratlys, which are claimed in whole or part by China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. These islands are believed to hold oil and natural gas deposits.
Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed a non-binding code in 2002 stating they would settle South China Sea disputes peacefully.
Frequent naval clashes between claimant countries in the South China Sea, especially in the area near the Spratlys and the Paracel Islands have turned the territory into a source of tension in the region.
The DOC is expected to encourage countries around the territory to adopt a code of conduct.
"I hope this DOC can be agreed upon in the not-too-distant future," President Yudhoyono said.
The president was at Tsinghua University to receive an honoris causa doctorate. Later, he met with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and the China National Congress.
Also on Friday (March 23), the Indonesian leader held bilateral talks with President Hu Jintao.
(SYS/KR-BSR/S012)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
