At a regular press briefing in Ha Noi on Thursday, Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang spoke of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' December 30, 2023 statement on maintaining and promoting stability in the maritime sphere in Southeast Asia, noting the statement shows respect for maritime space in the region.
The statement adopted by ASEAN foreign ministers, demonstrates ASEAN's solidarity, unified voice, determination and central role in protecting peace and stability and building maritime zones, including the East Sea, into spaces of cooperation and development.
The document also reiterates the grouping's principled stance on confidence building, restraint, and peaceful resolution of disputes in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The statement conveys ASEAN's message, expecting its partners to support and contribute to realizing the commitment./.