ASEAN should uphold community spirit
VGP – Heads of ASEAN States/Governments on Saturday welcomed the regional Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the situation in the Korean Peninsula, calling on relevant parties to exercise self-restraint and resume dialogue.
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Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Photo: VGP |
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Gathering in the Philippines for the 30th ASEAN Summit, the regional leaders stressed the need to push the finalization of the framework of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea by the middle of 2017 in a bid to soon conclude the deal.
Speaking at the Summit, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shared concerns over profound changes of the international and regional situation over the past time and multifaceted impacts on ASEAN as well as each member states.
These multidimensional challenges are both strategic tests and opportunities for ASEAN to show their stuff and central role in addressing regional issues, Phuc said.
He urged ASEAN countries to uphold their responsibility and the spirit of the ASEAN Community, especially having common positions on international and regional issues. The bloc needs to take the lead in dignifying international law and basic principles of international relations in line with the goal to build a rule-based community.
The PM also expressed concerns over escalated tensions in the Korean Peninsula, the East Viet Nam Sea, the East China Sea, and the recent terrorist attacks in Europe, applauding the joint efforts of ASEAN in dealing with traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
He stressed that ASEAN should give prominence to the basic principles and common stance on peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Vietnamese Government chief called on parties to exercise restraint, avoid using or threatening to use force, respect diplomatic and legal processes, fully and strictly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and work towards early conclusion of an effective and feasible Code of Conduct in the East Sea to contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea./.
By Quang Minh
