VietNamNet Bridge – ASEAN leaders will discuss approaches to maintaining a stable and peaceful environment, security, and maritime freedom in the East Sea at their April 24–25 summit in Brunei.

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh revealed the planned discussions at an interview granted to the media prior to the 22nd ASEAN Summit.

The East Sea is an issue of common concern to ASEAN, but the situation, its complexity, and related disputes have all escalated in recent times, he said.

ASEAN leaders are expected to address the issue by devising common orientations and drawing up a roadmap to meet their shared goals during their two-day gathering.     

“I think ASEAN should pursue its agreed goals of continuing to build trust and confidence, exercising self-restraint, and refraining from exacerbating the situation,” said Vinh.

To this end, he said, the parties concerned should honour their past commitments and agreements regarding the East Sea, including ASEAN’s six-point principles on the East Sea, the Declaration of Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on the 10th anniversary of the DOC.

These documents require the parties to abide by international laws demanding the peaceful settlement of all East Sea disputes, such as the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The most pressing task is to negotiate a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea, said Vinh.
Priority

ASEAN leaders attending the summit will also examine measures to accelerate the formation of the ASEAN Community by 2015 and promote the grouping’s central role in addressing regional issues in a regional evolving structure.

Vietnam attaches great importance to ASEAN and desires to build a united and resilient community that can demonstrate its central regional role and encourage partners to contribute to a peaceful and stable environment for cooperation and development, said Vinh.

He reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to supporting the community building effort and responding to challenges like climate change, natural disasters, epidemic prevention, and the fight against transnational crime.

Source: VOV