MANILA, Nov 14 — Malaysia has urged Asean and China to show renewed political will and step up efforts to finalise the draft South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC).

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the talks had intensified this year, with negotiations held monthly.

However, he said key issues, including the proposed code’s nature and geographical scope, remained unresolved and needed urgent attention.

He said Malaysia, which has co-chaired the negotiations since 2024, had worked closely with fellow Asean member states and China to steer the talks towards an effective and substantive COC within the three-year aspirational timeline agreed in 2023.