Illustrative image. Source: ASEAN.org) Manila (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Pham Binh Minh has highlighted the significance of ensuring peace and stability, including maritimesecurity, as the shared interest of all states in and outside the region.
Addressing the 24th ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, thePhilippines, on August 7, the Deputy PM underlined concerns about reinforcement,construction and militarisation activities at sea.
He proposed the maintenance of the existing principlesand stances on the East Sea that are stated in the documents of ASEAN and betweenthe association its partners, especially those related to the settlement ofdisputes through peaceful methods without using or threatening to use forces,and the respect for international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of theSea, as well as diplomatic and legal processes.
He called on partners and the international communityto continue supporting efforts of ASEAN and China, speeding up the negotiationon the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea in an effective andlegally binding manner.
He also suggested the reinforcement and expansion ofdialogue and trust-building measures, forming a common perspective as well ascapacity in implementing preventive diplomacy.
At the forum, the ministers agreed on the need topromote the role of the ARF as the leading forum on dialogue and securitycooperation as well as the building of trust and preventive diplomacy,contributing to ensuring peace, stability and stability in the Asia-Pacificregion.
They concurred to continue implementing the Hanoi Planof Action and the ARF Vision Statement and partnership in prioritised areassuch as combating terrorism and trans-national crimes, as well as maritimesecurity, natural disaster relief, weapon non-proliferation, disarmament andpeacekeeping.
They committed to continuing to promote measures tobuild trust, while considering and developing preventive diplomatic measures,and maintaining fundamental principles and orientations of the forum.
They also approved a list of activities for the2017-2018 mid-period, with Vietnam chairing two conference on cooperation amonglaw enforcement agencies at sea and the building of capacity for peace-keepingforces.
At the same time, the ministers agreed on theestablishment of the ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting on Information andCommunication Technologies (ISM-ICTs) to meet the increasing requirements ofthe region in the field.
They also adopted two ARF Foreign Ministers’declarations on illegal fishing and drug prevention.
The 24th ARF meeting is one of the important events ofthe 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting from August 2-8 in Manila, thePhilippines, with the participation of 10 ASEAN members and 17 partners.-VNA
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