​China is sharing the same hopes of all 12 Southeast Asian nations to reach within the year an agreement on the conduct in the South China Sea.

China's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, said Beijing has the confidence and the resolve "to reach an agreement as soon as possible" with regards to the South China Sea Code of Conduct.

That's on top of China's goal to remove interference, bridge differences and expand common ground.

"The COC will provide the golden rules for the parties to effectively manage differences, build trust, and advance cooperation," Wang said in a statement over the weekend, March 8.

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional bloc currently hosted by the Philippines, a country that has claims over parts of the South China Sea, have expressed hopes of concluding within this year negotiations on the South China Sea conduct. It was the first-ever timeline set by relevant parties for themselves after a decade-long stalemate.

In late January, top diplomats of all Southeast Asian countries gathered in Manila and agreed to conduct monthly in-person meetings to expedite the conclusion of talks.

"We also hope that as this year’s ASEAN Chair, the Philippines will recognize and fulfill its responsibility, resist the pull of self-interest, and play a positive role for peace and stability in the region," Wang said.

China stressed that the South China Sea is home to the world’s busiest, safest and freest shipping lanes, and over the past year, cooperation there "has kept a sound momentum," citing various measures undertaken by Beijing.

"All these are ample proof that peace, cooperation and friendship should be the new narrative of the South China Sea," Wang said.

"Making waves wins no hearts and fomenting trouble finds no takers," he added.