Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung at the teleconferenced EAS Senior Officials' Meeting on June 24 (Photo: VNA) The meeting gathered officials of the 10 ASEANcountries and the EAS partners of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia,the US, India, Australia, and New Zealand.
They recognised the progress in the EAS cooperation inthe recent past despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, especiallyin the implementation of the Manila Plan of Action to Advance the Phnom PenhDeclaration on the EAS Development Initiative (2018 - 2022).
Applauding the outcomes of the 15th EAS in2020, they emphasised the need for coordination to actively realise theoutcomes and joint statements of this summit, including the Hanoi Declarationon the 15th Anniversary of the EAS, and further enhance the EAS’srole and strategic value in the new development period.
The participating countries agreed to maintain thecurrent EAS cooperation trend, invest resources in implementing the Manila Planof Action for 2018 - 2022, and prepare to build a plan of action for the nextperiod on the basis of the priorities matching the new context.
In the face of the complex COVID-19 situation in theregion, the partner countries pledged to give high priority to assisting the ASEANnations to improve the preventive medicine, develop vaccines, and ensure thesafe, effective, and even distribution of vaccines.
The ASEAN countries asked the partners to supportthe bloc’s COVID-19 response initiatives such as the ASEAN COVID-19 responsefund, the Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies, and the ASEANComprehensive Recovery Framework.
At the meeting, participants agreed to maintaineconomic connectivity and regional and global supply chains, promote recoveryand green growth, work towards sustainable development, apply innovativeachievements, and boost cooperation in such new areas as digital economy,e-commerce, and renewable energy.
They concurred in working together to prepare for theEAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting this August and the 16th EAS in late2021.
Some participants in the EAS Senior Officials' Meeting on June 24 (Photo: VNA) The EAS needs to further bring into play its importantrole and actively contribute to these efforts, they noted.
Regarding the East Sea, an arterial shipping route of the world, the countriesstressed the necessity for coordination to ensure peace, stability, security,and safety of navigation and overflight, and to turn this body of water into anarea of peace, friendship and cooperation.
They called on the relevant parties to refrain fromany action that escalates tensions or complicates the situation; not to conduct militarisationor use and threat to use force; and resolve disputes by peaceful means on thebasis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS).
They also appealed to ASEAN and China to fully andeffectively carry out the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC) and build an efficient and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the watersin line with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
Officials also lauded the outcomes of the ASEAN Leaders’Meeting on April 24 this year, affirming the support for the bloc’s role inpromoting dialogue and reconciliation in Myanmar and helping this country seeksolutions to stabilise the situation.
Addressingthe event, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung asked the countries tocontinue highly prioritising coordination to help mitigate COVID-19 impacts,protect people’s health, and recover the regional economy while assistingefforts to narrow the development gap and ensure even and sustainabledevelopment in the region, especially the Mekong sub-region.
He reiterated ASEAN’s viewpoint on the East Sea issue,urging the parties concerned to enhance efforts to boost dialogue andcooperation, build trust, effectively deal with emerging issues, improve theirsense of responsibility, and uphold the rules-based approach in countries’ relations.
He also called on them to respect law, exerciseself-restraint, not take action complicating the situation, not conduct militarisation,peacefully settle disputes, keep fully and effectively implementing the DOC,and exert efforts to overcome pandemic-caused difficulties to soon finalise anefficient and effective COC that accords with international law and the 1982UNCLOS, thereby helping to maintain peace, security, and stability in the EastSea and the region./.
VNA
