Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday welcomed "major progress" at a meeting with his ASEAN counterparts in mapping out a "code of conduct" to avert clashes in the South China Sea.

Beijing will continue to view the Association of Southeast Asian Nations "as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy," Wang told a press conference following the China-ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting in Bangkok.

In the wake of China's recent test-firing of a ballistic missile in the waters, strains between Beijing and ASEAN countries have been rekindled in the sea, where some ASEAN members have overlapping claims with China.

"We are ready to continue to work with ASEAN to build on the progress we have made in our cooperation and continue to enhance mutual political trust," Wang added.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said at the outset of Wednesday's gathering, "China will stay active in its ASEAN engagements, if not more so and in supporting initiatives and objectives for the development of the region."

Beijing has rapidly built artificial islands with military infrastructure in the South China Sea, home to some of the world's busiest sea lanes.

(Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh)

In an apparent attempt to challenge Chinese actions in the waters, U.S. warships have carried out "freedom of navigation" operations there, while Washington said Beijing test-fired a ballistic missile in July.

With China claiming sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, recent incidents and mishaps at sea have also caused tensions to flare.

In July, a Chinese oil exploration ship entered Vietnam's exclusive economic zone to engage in activities, and in June, a Chinese fishing vessel collided with a Philippine fishing boat.

A code of conduct has long been discussed, with China and the 10 ASEAN members agreeing in 2002 on a loose set of guidelines known as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China.

Wang said consultations about the code between China and ASEAN have made "another major progress."

The focus is on whether the two sides will make the code legally binding, but China has opposed it. Last year, Beijing proposed that the code should be concluded by 2021.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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