Scene at the unofficial annual meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 28 (Photo: VNA)New York (VNA) – Foreign ministers (FMs)of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convenedan unofficial annual meeting on the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the UNGeneral Assembly in New York on September 28.
Singapore, which currently holds the rotating ASEANchair, updated the participants on its preparations for hosting the upcoming 33rd ASEAN Summit, high-level meetings with partners and the 13th East Asia Summit(EAS) scheduled to take place from November 13-15.
The FMs discussed ASEAN nations supporting eachother’s bids for posts at the UN and at other international organisations,saying that it is demonstration of solidarity and a step toward the buildingand promotion of the ASEAN Community globally. They agreed to frequently getupdated on the candidacy of bloc member nations.
Deliberating international and regional issues ofcommon concern, the officials affirmed cooperation in the region aims at ensuringpeace and stability, with dialogue and collaboration being major tools ininternational relations.
They recommended ASEAN maintain solidarity andbalanced approach based on multilateralism and free trade amid global complicateddevelopments.
The meeting reached an agreement on the building ofASEAN’s common stance on the regional architecture, particularly in the bloc’sprocessing of ideas, initiatives and strategies freshly raised in the region.
The FMs also exchanged opinions on Myanmar’s situation,expressing their hope that the Myanmar Government will soon have a specificplan to tackle issues in Rakhine state for the sake of local people as well asthe ASEAN Community and Southeast Asian.
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Deputy FM and Head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN (R) (Photo: VNA)Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Deputy FM and Head of theVietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN, highlighted ASEAN’s central role in theregion and noted that solidarity and unity in the bloc is the key to ensuring peaceand stability in the region.
He suggested the bloc take the lead in maintainingdialogue and cooperation among countries by prioritising basic principles, likeself-restraint, avoidance of unilateral acts that could complicate thesituation, respect for international law, and building a rule-based regionalarchitecture.
Regarding the East Sea issue, Quy reiterated ASEAN’scommon stance and asked the concerned parties to fully implement theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and acceleratenegotiations toward the adoption of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.
He underscored that the process requiresself-restraint and avoidance of unilateral acts, as well as the creation offavorable conditions for COC negotiation.
The same day, the FMs attended the ASEAN-UNMinisterial Meeting (AUMM), which affirmed the sides’ commitments toreinforcing the comprehensive strategic partnership toward the realisation ofthe ASEAN Vision 2025 and the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
Lauding the fruitful outcomes of bilateralcooperation based on the ASEAN-UN action plan for 2016 – 2020, the two sidesagreed to increase activities that foster links between the UN Agenda 2030 andthe ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
The officials also agreed to boost collaboration inpreventive diplomacy, peacekeeping, cross-border crime prevention, implementationof UN sustainable development goals (SDGs), climate change adaptation,environmental protection and women empowerment.
They highlighted the support for multilateralism andregional connectivity processes. They emphasized the rule of law and theimportance of respecting international law, including the 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in peacefully settling disputes, preventingconflicts, and maintaining peace in the region and the world.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Quy affirmedVietnam’s support for increasing ASEAN-UN cooperation in peacekeeping,preventive diplomacy, and law enforcement in the region.
He expected that the UN would continue helping ASEANbuild its community and realise the SDGs.
The diplomat informed the participants that Vietnamwill work with the UN and the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation tohold the ASEAN-UN Regional Dialogue on peace and reconciliation later this year.-VNA
VNA
