NAY PYI TAW - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Thursday that the situation in the South China Sea is on the whole stable and the freedom and safety of navigation in the region is ensured.

China and ASEAN members have identified the dual-track approach for dealing with the South China Sea issue, he said, according to which specific disputes are to be solved through negotiations and consultations by countries directly concerned and peace and stability in the region be jointly upheld by China and ASEAN countries working together.

"China and ASEAN agreed to actively carry out consultation to reach, on the basis of consensus and at an early date, a code of conduct in the South China Sea, for which early harvest has been achieved," Li said.