Vietnam hasproposed the Community focus on building trust and solidarity amongstthe respective navies to form a united bloc capable of safeguardingsecurity and safety in the East Sea and throughout the region,Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Vinh, head of the Department for External Relationsat the Vietnam People’s Navy Headquarters, said during a side event.
Relations between the navies of ASEAN member countries should bedeveloped in a pragmatic way, he said, adding that this meeting isparticularly significant in the context of the association becoming asingle community in 2015.
ASEAN naval forces arescheduled to take part in a joint parade in 2017, which is anticipatedto improve relationships and cooperation, and portray a positive imageto the international community, he noted.
Over thepast years, a number of Vietnamese initiatives have been implemented,including setting up hotlines to exchange information, holding regularmeetings and the organising of joint patrols, Colonel Vinh said.
These measures have significantly improved mutual trust, which in turnhas contributed to safeguarding peace, stability, security and safetyin the East Sea; and created favourable conditions for thedevelopment and prosperity of ASEAN, he added.
During the event, the association’s naval chiefs discussed a number ofmeasures to reinforce mutual trust, confidence and understanding.
They also agreed on the development of a roadmap for the ASEAN naval forces.
Initiated in 2001, the meeting is a chance for all parties to increasetheir understanding of each other, and improve collaboration on theimplementation of a range of activities, including conducting joint searescues, and addressing piracy and legal violations at sea.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, includes Brunei,Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines,Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA