Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – ASEAN has continued to movefirmly and collectively towards the goal of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025,while dealing with emerging challenges, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic,Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said on November 10.
In his opening remarks at the online ASEAN Foreign Ministers’Meeting (AMM), Minh expressed his deepest sympathies and condolences toCambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand over the human and property losses causedby heavy floods and landslides triggered by the recent storms that also hit Vietnam a few days ago.
Besides such massive and deadly storms, thegrouping has also been facing a stormy regional and geo-political environment,the official noted.
As the AMM Chair 2020, Minh thanked other ASEAN ministersfor their support and cooperation in advancing all ASEAN initiatives.
In the period of a cohesive and responsive ASEAN, he calledfor more support and cooperation during the meeting and other upcoming events,especially the 37th ASEAN Summit and related summits.
The ministers shared the view that 2020 is a tough yearwith the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing competitions betweenstrategic powers, along with traditional and non-traditional challenges.
However, ASEAN has reaped achievements in the ASEANCommunity building and affirmed its centrality in the regional architecture,they said, speaking highly of efforts by Vietnam as the ASEAN Chair in leading anduniting the bloc.
To ensure post-pandemic recovery, it is a must toensure the continuity of the supply chain, safely restore trade betweencountries, sign new-generation free trade agreements such as the Regional ComprehensiveEconomic Partnership (RCEP), and narrow the development gap in ASEAN byadvancing cooperation between sub-regions, the ministers said.
They devoted a lot of time discussing regionaland international matters, including the East Sea issue, and pointed out unilateral activities, withcontinuous militarisation activities and groundless sovereignty claims, threateningpeace and stability in the East Sea in particular and the region in general.
Given this, the countries reiterated ASEAN’s stance andprinciples on peace and stability in the East Sea, and emphasised the role ofinternational law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(1982 UNCLOS).
They called for the full and serious implementation ofthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and lookedforward to the building of an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in theEast Sea (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.
On this occasion, the ministers also discussedcriteria for dialogue partners of ASEAN, and agreed to admit Colombia, Cuba andSouth Africa to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and to organise a signing ceremony of the instruments of accession to the treaty by thecountries.
Deputy PM and FM Minh said it is time for ASEAN todemonstrate its solidarity to complete priorities and initiatives in 2020,realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and effectively cope with emergingchallenges, particularly COVID-19.
Solidarity is the key factor to ensure peace,stability, independence and self-reliance amidst global uncertainties, he said.
Vietnam is committed to closely coordinating with otherASEAN countries and China to fully and effectively implement the DOC and soonreach a result-oriented COC in line with international law, especially the 1982UNCLOS, he pledged.
The 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings,slated for November 12-15, will feature 20 activities at the highest level,including the 37th ASEAN Summit; ASEAN+1 with China, Japan, the Republic ofKorea, India, the US, the UN, and Australia; the 15th East Asia Summit (EAS); and the 4th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); among others.
During the summits with partners, leaders will focuson building the ASEAN Community, maintaining intra-bloc cooperation momentum,expanding and deepening relations between ASEAN and partners, promoting thegrouping’s centrality, raising its international position, ensuring COVID-19prevention and control, and discussing regional and international issues ofshared concern.
More than 80 documents, including proposals byVietnam, are set to be approved on this occasion, marking the highest number to date.
Vietnam is expected to symbolically hand over theASEAN Chairmanship to Brunei at the closing ceremony on November 15./.
VNA
