VN stresses ASEAN-China strategic partnership
Addressing the ASEAN-China Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) Retreat, Vinh stated that the effective implementation of cooperation activities within
the framework of the ASEAN-China Plan of Action in the 2011-2015
period, including the full implementation of the Declaration on the
Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and looking towards a Code of
Conduct (COC), also provides a practical contribution to strengthening
this partnership.
Regarding the East Sea , the Vietnamese
senior diplomat emphasised the high importance of peace, stability,
maritime security and safety in the East Sea towards the regional
situation.
Concerned parties should strengthen cooperation and
build trust on the basic of respecting international law, including the
1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), he
said, adding that they also need to fully and effectively implement the
DOC and ASEAN’s six-point principle on the East Sea.
Vinh stressed that as the drafting of the COC is the common concern
and interest of both ASEAN and China as well as the whole region, the
parties should soon start negotiations on the COC in the spirit of cooperation and
responsibility in order to ensure the COC will become a more effective
tool for safeguarding peace, stability, maritime security and safety in
the Ease Sea as well as to ensure peaceful resolution for disputes and
the conformity of international law and UNCLOS 1982, including
provisions on respecting continental shelves and exclusive economic
zones of coastal nations.
In this process,
ASEAN should manifest the grouping’s responsibility and central role for
the regional peace, security and common development, he noted.
At the retreat, ASEAN and China discussed measures to strengthen
their relations as well as preparations for the ASEAN-China Summit to be
held in Cambodia next month.
The two
sides affirmed to continue efforts in promoting the ASEAN-China
Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity through specific,
comprehensive and effective cooperation measures./.VNA