KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS) - China has stopped construction in the South China Sea, the country's foreign minister said on Wednesday, at a meeting of South-east Asian (Asean) foreign ministers where the disputed waters have taken centre stage.

China and Asean agreed to speed up consultations on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, the foreign ministers of China and Asean member Thailand said on Wednesday.

"China has already stopped," said Foreign Minister Wang Yi, when asked if China had halted construction work in the South China Sea. "Just take an aeroplane to take a look."