China and Southeast Asian countries have agreed to a draft framework for a long-mooted code of conduct for the disputed South China Sea. <br/><br/>China's foreign ministry today said after a meeting between Chinese and ASEAN officials in the southern city of Guiyan, the draft framework had been agreed upon, although it gave no details of its contents. <br/><br/>The Ministry said senior officials have completed the negotiations of the draft code of conduct (COC) framework, ahead of the mid-2017 timeline which leaders of ASEAN and China had set. <br/><br/>According to a joint press statement issued at the end of the one-day senior officials' meeting, this draft COC framework will be submitted to the foreign ministers for consideration. <br/><br/>China and the ASEAN had been hoping to agree on the framework this year, 15 years after committing to draft it.