Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the meeting (Photo: VNA)Bangkok (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting inBangkok on June 22 as part of preparations for the 34th ASEAN Summit.
At the meeting, the ministers approved the report of the ASEANSecretary-General on progress of the ASEAN Community building.
They lauded Thailand’s efforts in realizing initiativesconcretizing the ASEAN Year 2019’s theme of "AdvancingPartnership for Sustainability." They agreed to submit the Statement onPartnership for Sustainability to State leaders for approval.
They discussed measures tostrengthen the partnership between ASEAN and its partners, while considering proposalsof Peru and South Africa on their joining of the Treaty of Amity andCooperation, and giving opinions on preparations for the ASEAN-RoKCommemorative Summit in 2019.
They underscored that theASEAN should maintain solidarity, while completing and improving the efficiencyof mechanisms formed and led by the association, thus coping with challengesand ensuring its central role in regional processes.
They also discussed measuresto strengthen cooperation in anti-terrorism, extremism, trans-nationalcriminals, cyber security, and ocean waste.
They pledged to work withMyanmar to seek solutions to Rakhai crisis.
The ministers recognised theprogress of negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), whilehighlighting the significance of full implementation of the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea, and the construction of the COC to suitinternational law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.
They congratulated Vietnam onwinning the non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council, showing their beliefthat the two ASEAN members in the council -- Vietnam and Indonesia -- will makemore contributions to peace, stability, dialogue and cooperation in the world.
Addressing the event, FM Minhunderlined the need for the ASEAN to maintain consensus and solidarity, whichhe described as the most valuable asseta of the association in the ASEANCommunity building and maintaining its central role in the region.
Noting that the East Seasituation is developing complicatedly, he called on parties concerned to workharder to maintain dialogues and cooperation for peace, stability, maritime andaviation safety and security in the East Sea, while exercising self-restraint andavoiding unilateral actions, including the militarization of the Eat Sea whichaffects trust in the region.
ASEAN and China shouldcollaborate more closely in building the COC by maintaining a favourableenvironment for the negotiation process to reap success.
He proposed the strengtheningof cooperation within ASEAN frameworks to cope with challenges at sea such asillegal fishing and waste.
He took the chance to thankcountries to support Vietnam’s UN Security Council non-permanent membership,vowing that Vietnam will work harder to contribute to efforts for peace andstability in the region and the world.
As the ASEAN Chair in 2020,Vietnam will exert efforts to connect the UN Security Council and regionalorganisations, including the ASEAN.-VNA
VNA
