China to negotiate directly with ASEAN members over disputes

 　　BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- China will negotiate directly with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on drafting a code of conduct concerning the South China Sea, a Foreign Ministry¹ spokesman said Thursday.

　　The document is important in implementing² the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular press conference.

　　At the annual ASEAN summit in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on Tuesday, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said ASEAN should forge a common position on a proposed code of conduct aimed at easing tensions in the South China Sea before talking with China.

　　Hong responded that the DOC, signed by China and ASEAN countries in November 2002, is intended to promote peace and stability in the South China Sea, and it is not used for resolving disputes on territorial³ sovereignty and maritime⁴ rights in the South China Sea.

　　ASEAN has also reiterated⁵ that, as a regional organization, it is impartial⁶ on controversial issues, and disputes concerning the South China Sea should be dealt with through peaceful negotiation⁷ among the claimants, according to Hong.

　　China has been implementing the DOC with ASEAN members in a positive manner, including conducting joint⁸ research programs and cooperative projects, he added.

　　ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.?

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

3 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

4 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

5 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

6 impartial   

adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的

参考例句：

• He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
• Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

7 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。