BEIJING -- China is willing to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to formulate a code of conduct (COC) for the South China Sea, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Friday.

Qin's comment came ahead of the 10th joint working group meeting between China and ASEAN on the implementation of the declaration on the conduct (DOC) of parties in the South China Sea. The meeting will be held on March 18 in Singapore.

"China is ready to work with ASEAN for comprehensive and effective implementation of DOC and steadily push forward consultations on COC," Qin said.

Practical maritime cooperation will also be touched upon during the meeting, Qin said.

Qin called for favorable conditions for the implementation of DOC and formulation of COC to maintain peace and stability on the South China Sea.

China and ASEAN officials met last September in Suzhou, in east China's Jiangsu province, for the 6th China-ASEAN senior officials' meeting and the 9th joint working group meeting on the implementation of DOC.