EAS member nations’ ambassadors meet in Indonesia

Jakarta (VNA) - Ambassadors from member nations of the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Indonesia have gathered at a meeting in Jakarta to review cooperation within the framework of the forum and discuss preparations for the upcoming 14th EAS in Thailand.

The diplomats highly valued results of cooperation activities to implement statements of the East Asia Summits from 2005 to now and priority areas in the Manila Plan of Action 2017 on combating terrorism and transnational crime, strengthening ASEAN connectivity, maritime cooperation, information and communication technology (ICT), energy and environment collaboration, issues related to global health and disaster management.

ASEAN’s partner countries affirmed their commitment to continuing to work with ASEAN nations to effectively implement cooperation within the EAS framework in the coming time.

Participants noted that logistics preparation and draft documents to be submitted for approval at the 14th EAS have been completed basically.

At the meeting, representatives from ASEAN’s partner countries praised the bloc leaders' adoption of the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific, affirming its central role in the regional architecture.

They emphasised the importance of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, and affirmed their determination to conclude negotiations in 2019.

Representatives shared positive assessments of the negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), while expressing their concern about recent complicated developments in the waters.

They underlined the principle of self-restraint, non-militarisation, avoiding actions that complicate the situation; and the importance of peacefully resolving disputes on the basis international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

Regarding the Korean Peninsula situation, participants voiced their concern about recent missile tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and called on concerned parties to maintain dialogue on denuclearisation, contributing to security and stability in the region.

The EAS is a unique leaders-led forum, which was formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity. It brings together 10 members of ASEAN (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippine, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), and the bloc’s partners - Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the US./.