AMM-56: ASEAN underlines trust in settling East Sea issue
The 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting discussed the situation in the East Sea and expressed concern over land reclamation activities and serious incidents in the region that erode trust, hike tension and potentially undermine peace, security and stability in the area.
Jakarta (VNA) – The 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meetingdiscussed the situation in the East Sea and expressed concern over landreclamation activities and serious incidents in the region that erode trust, hiketension and potentially undermine peace, security and stability in the area.
In a joint statement released after the two-day meeting inJakarta, the ministers reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trustand confidence, exercise self-restraint in conducting activities that may complicateor escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, as well as avoid actionsthat could further complicate the situation.
ASEAN reaffirmed the pursuit of peaceful solutions to disputesin accordance with widely recognised principles of international law, includingthe 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Theyemphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint inconducting activities that may complicate the situation and escalate tension inthe East Sea.
The ministers also highlighted the importance of the fulland effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inEast Sea (DOC). They welcomed the progress made in the negotiations for aneffective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordancewith international law, including the UNCLOS.
Theyalso underlined the importance of adopting preventive and trust buildingmeasures to foster confidence among the parties involved./.
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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
