Cambodia welcomes resumption of COC negotiations
Phnom
Penh (VNA) - Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation Prak Sokhonn said Cambodia welcomes the resumption of negotiations
on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea (called the East Sea in
Vietnam) as it reflects the commitment of ASEAN and China to maintain regional
stability by managing differences as per international law.
Sokhonn
made the remarks during the 28th ASEAN Regional Forum (AFR) on August 6, the Phnom
Penh Post cited the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s
press release on August 7.
The minister
highlighted the ARF’s contributions to promoting peace, security and stability in
the Asia-Pacific region.
Sokhonn
also emphasised the importance of enhancing regional and international solidarity
and cooperation towards a collective and effective response to and recovery
from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ARF
can also assist in the resumption of inter-Korean communication by rekindling
trust and confidence between the two nations, he said.
Earlier, the 28th ARF issued
the Chairman’s Statement, calling for the maintenance of security and freedom of navigation in the East Sea, and
acceleration of talks for the prompt signing of the COC.
The statement noted that the 28th ARF reaffirmed
the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability,
prosperity, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the East
Sea, and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes, without coercion, in accordance
with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The meeting underscored the importance of the full
and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties
in the East Sea (DOC) in its entirety.
The forum also noted the positive progress in
the ongoing negotiations on the COC despite the challenging COVID-19 situation,
including the recent resumption of the textual negotiations of the Single Draft
COC Negotiating Text (SDNT), which has resulted in provisional agreement on the
Preamble section, and looked forward to the early conclusion of an effective
and substantive COC that is consistent with international law, including the
1982 UNCLOS./.