Premier Li Keqiang and other leaders pose for a group photo for the ASEAN summit at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Myanmar's capital, Nay Pyi Taw, on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

China will push for an early conclusion of the code of conduct in South China Sea, a legally binding document that will shelve territory disputes to push for regional stability, Premier Li Keqiang said at a multinational meeting on Thursday.

He made the remarks at the ninth East Asia Summit, where leaders of regional stakeholders including the Philippines and Vietnam were also present.

"China's resolve to safeguard territorial sovereignty is clear and its determination to uphold regional peace and stability is firm," Li said at the summit.

"China's policy of building friendship and partnership with its neighbors is sincere and consistent and its wish to bring benefits to the region and its neighbors through its development is genuine," he said.

The situation in the South China Sea is stable, and the freedom and safety of navigation in the area is ensured, he said.

China started to hold dialogues with ASEAN countries to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, a morally powerful set of rules for regional countries being signed in 2002, which said the adoption of an official "code of conduct" in the region is necessary.

Li also pledged to conclude the discussion of a treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation as soon as possible, so as to provide an institutional framework and legal guarantee for peaceful co-existence between the two sides.