The Philippines said China made the assurances in response to concerns from leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who met with China's premier Wen Jiabao Friday.

ASEAN hopes that a "declaration" on a mooted code of conduct could lead to a mechanism to govern actions in the disputed waterway -- a resource-rich region which is a vital conduit for trade in goods and energy.

"As before, China will work with other nations to earnestly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, increase mutual confidence and friendly cooperation," Wen said.

"We will jointly work toward the maintenance of peace and stability in the South China Sea and work to bilaterally resolve the dispute in an appropriate manner," he said in comments posted on the Chinese foreign ministry website.

Some nations in the region have grown concerned over China's increasingly assertive posture over its maritime territorial ambitions in recent months.

"(Wen) made a comment that China is serious about the implementation of the declaration on the code of conduct in the South China Sea," said Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima who attended the summit.

"It was in reaction to some of the comments of the ASEAN leaders," he told reporters.

"Several of them mentioned the importance of making sure that the issues in the area are resolved in a peaceful manner and that the South China Sea be an area of cooperation and prosperity and that access to international maritime lanes be maintained."

Diplomatic sources say that a working group from ASEAN and China will meet in December to prepare the groundwork and establish technical details on how a code of conduct could be formulated.

"It is important first for everyone to reach a code of conduct before we move on with other initiatives," said Filipino presidential spokesman Ricky Carandang, referring to plans for joint activities such as scientific studies.

"It's important first that we agree on the ground rules."

The United States has said it is willing to help craft the legally binding mechanism, to end the dispute that threatens regional stability.

However, diplomats say a major stumbling block to such a mechanism is Beijing's reluctance to deal with ASEAN collectively on the issue.

Beijing instead wants the matter discussed bilaterally with the group's members which have territorial claims -- a forum where it has more clout -- while ASEAN wants to speak as a group.

China has also warned the United States against making the Spratly dispute an international issue and has rejected any form of interference from Washington.

In July it showcased its naval might in the South China Sea after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told regional leaders that resolution of the dispute was "pivotal" to regional stability.

The Spratlys island chain in the South China Sea is claimed in whole or in part by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam -- all ASEAN members -- and by China and Taiwan.

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