The 14th Western Pacific Naval Symposium has opened in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao. It’s the first time China has hosted the biennial event, which focuses on building naval security and maritime cooperation among Pacific Rim nations.

Naval leaders and representatives from 25 countries are attending the two-day event. In this morning’s discussions, the members unanimously voted for a new naval Code of Conduct, called the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea. The agreement outlines how warships should communicate and manoeuvre when they come into contact in heavily trafficked sea lanes surrounding China, Japan and Southeast Asia. Many believe that this new Code of Conduct will help reduce tensions in the region.

And Pakistan has also been approved as a full observer for the symposium. The WPNS was founded in 1987, and currently has 21 member states plus four observers. China is one of the group’s founding members.