The Bangkok Post reports that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is working on action plans to settle a sovereignty dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said in the World Economic Forum on East Asia that his organization is trying to devise action plans to quell the territorial dispute in the South China Sea. He added that discussions on the action plans have progressed since the East Asia Summit held in Bali, Indonesia, last November.

The ASEAN secretary-general said the ten ASEAN member countries have close relations with China in various fields, including trade. He added that they will face a big problem if the sovereignty dispute is not settled, noting the need for having action plans in place.