Hanoi (VNA) - Maritime cooperation is an essential part of theCOVID-19 response and post-pandemic recovery, the 8th Expanded ASEAN MaritimeForum (EAMF), held in both the in-person and online formats on December 15, heard.

The forum drew the participation ofrepresentatives from ASEAN member states, the bloc’s eight partner countries,foreign embassies in Hanoi, and experts and scholars on maritime issues.

Delegates stressed the importance of the maritimespace in security, stability, development, and prosperity in each nation, andthe need to intensify maritime cooperation.

Priority should be given to ensuring navigationsecurity, safety, and freedom, preventing incidents, building trust and afavourable environment to resolve disputes, boosting maritime economicdevelopment and environmental protection, handling plastic waste, and fightingillegal fishing.

They also highlighted the necessity of promotinglinks between strategies and initiatives on maritime cooperation and ensuringharmony with the region’s strategies and plans, given that each country buildsand implements its own.

The partner countries expressed their supportfor the targets and orientations contained in the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific(AOIP), which defines maritime cooperation and security as a key pillar.

Participants also exchanged views on emergingchallenges, including illegal and excessive fishing, maritime environmentalpollution and degradation, plastic waste, crime at sea, climate change, andfood security.

They emphasised the important role ofinternational law and the Convention on the Law of the Sea, adding thatcountries, big or small, are all equal and have a responsibility to abide byinternational law.

Many delegates voiced concern over the complex developmentsin the East Sea and stressed the importance of dialogue, building trust, andavoiding militarisation or other activities that may worsen the situation.

It is also important to implement theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) fully andeffectively and to work towards the early signing of a Code of Conduct in theEast Sea (COC), they said.

ASEAN and China have affirmed they will resumeCOC tasks in 2021, after they were suspended due to COVID-19.

As chair of the forum, head of the ASEANDepartment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vu Ho affirmed that the EAMF hasopened up opportunities for ASEAN countries and their partners to discussissues of mutual concern and shared priority.

EAMF-8 is the last of a series of activities onmaritime cooperation to be chaired by Vietnam in 2020. As ASEAN Chair in 2021,Brunei will chair the 11th ASEAN Maritime Forum and 9th EAMF next year./.