Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the 39th ASEAN Summit, which was held virtually on October 26. (Photo: VNA)Promoting its spirit of independence in behaviours and neutrality in addressingand balancing relations will help ASEAN avoid being passive in competitionbetween powers, the PM said.
He, therefore, called on major countries participating in the region to showtheir sense of responsibility, respect international law, not to affect regionalpeace and stability, respect ASEAN’s role, and fully consult ASEAN throughmechanisms established and led by the bloc.
PM Chinh stressed the need to uphold intra-bloc solidarity, core values andpower, as well as responsibility and constructive spirit of all membercountries, to help ASEAN reach consensus and carry forward its centrality andprestige.
The bloc should prove its mettle and self-reliance in maintaining peace,security and stability in the East Sea, he said.
While affirming Vietnam's principled stance on the East Sea, the PM suggestedcountries promote commitments to observing international law, act responsibly,practice self-restraint, take no actions that would cause tensions andcomplicate the situation, and cooperate in issues of shared concern likemaritime environmental protection, illegal fishing combat and humanitarian aidto fishermen, among others.
He also proposed fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and reaching an effective andefficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China as soonas possible in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of theSea (1982 UNCLOS), which serves as a framework adjusting activities at sea.
PM Chinh expressed his sympathy with difficulties facing Myanmar, especiallyimpacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and called on parties to take actionresponsibly for the common interests of the region, push ahead with theimplementation of the five-point consensus so that the bloc’s envoy can visitthe country as soon as possible, and increase humanitarian aid to Myanmarpeople.
The participating leaders shared the view that ASEAN needs to work harder tostrengthen and deepen its partnerships, encourage the partners to support andpractically contribute to the building of the ASEAN Community, and join effortsto deal with emerging challenges, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic andcomprehensive and sustainable recovery.
They welcomed the UK becoming the 11th dialogue partner of ASEAN in August2021.
The leaders said amid the current difficulties, ASEAN’s centrality plays a keyrole that should be further consolidated and respected, and suggested promotingdialogue, trust building and cooperation for common interests.
They expressed their concern over the situation in the East Sea, includingunilateral activities that have escalated tensions, eroded trust and destroyedthe maritime environment.
The leaders reiterated the need to step up trust building, practice self-restraint,not to complicate the situation, and maintain peace, stability, security,safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.
Leaders emphasised their stance on the settlement of disputes in the East Seavia peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982UNCLOS.
For the Myanmar matter, they agreed to provide more assistance for the country,affirming that solidarity is the key for ASEAN and Myanmar to find outeffective solutions to the current complex issues in the country.
At the meeting, the ASEAN leaders also looked into other regional andinternational issues of shared concern, including the situation on the KoreanPeninsula./.
VNA
