Asean and China have reached an agreement to avoid disputes in the South China Sea through diplomacy and negotiations, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Speaking to Malaysian media at the close of the Asean summit here, he said: “I suggested, if possible, to use Asean channels, for example. Of course, some developments in the Philippines are concerning, and we have conveyed that. “There is assurance from the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, that this matter will be handled peacefully in line with the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.” Disputes in the South China Sea were among the key issues discussed at the summit by the 10 Asean members and China, a dialogue partner, with emphasis placed on the right to defend their respective national sovereignty. Last August, the Philippines and China pointed fingers at each other over the collision of coast guard vessels near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, marking the fifth maritime confrontation between the two countries within a month. China has claimed most of the South China Sea, including several strategic islands and reefs, as its territorial waters, leading to disputes with the Philippines, and several other countries.