Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (R) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after the closing of the 33rd ASEAN Summit (Source: mb.com.ph)Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have reaffirmed to maintainfreedom of navigation in the East Sea, a vital shipping lane for SoutheastAsian nations.
Duterte and Abe had “a productive and fruitful”bilateral meeting on November 15 right after the closing of the 33rd ASEANSummit in Singapore.
“Both leaders also discussed issues pertainingto the disputed East Sea, during which President Duterte stressed thePhilippines’ commitment to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation andoverflight, freedom of commerce and other lawful activities, exercise ofself-restraint, and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” PhilippinePresidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Though Japan is not a claimant in the East Sea,the country considers the waterway as a vital sea lane for trade in the region.
Also regarding the East Sea, US Vice PresidentMike Pence on November 16 called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) to soon finalise an effective and binding Code of Conduct (COC) in thewaters.
Most of ASEAN partners have pledged to joinhands in creating a favourable environment for dialogue, cooperation and trustbuilding in a bid to turn the East Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation anddevelopment through the effective and practical negotiations on the COC basedon international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS).
At the 33rd ASEAN Summit, Chinese Premier LiKeqiang also affirmed that China will continue working with ASEAN in completingthe COC within the next three years and in fully implementing the Declarationon the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the East Sea, thus contributing to peace,stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, and free trade in theEast Sea.–VNA
Duterte and Abe had “a productive and fruitful”bilateral meeting on November 15 right after the closing of the 33rd ASEANSummit in Singapore.
“Both leaders also discussed issues pertainingto the disputed East Sea, during which President Duterte stressed thePhilippines’ commitment to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation andoverflight, freedom of commerce and other lawful activities, exercise ofself-restraint, and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” PhilippinePresidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Though Japan is not a claimant in the East Sea,the country considers the waterway as a vital sea lane for trade in the region.
Also regarding the East Sea, US Vice PresidentMike Pence on November 16 called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) to soon finalise an effective and binding Code of Conduct (COC) in thewaters.
Most of ASEAN partners have pledged to joinhands in creating a favourable environment for dialogue, cooperation and trustbuilding in a bid to turn the East Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation anddevelopment through the effective and practical negotiations on the COC basedon international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS).
At the 33rd ASEAN Summit, Chinese Premier LiKeqiang also affirmed that China will continue working with ASEAN in completingthe COC within the next three years and in fully implementing the Declarationon the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the East Sea, thus contributing to peace,stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, and free trade in theEast Sea.–VNA
VNA
