During the annual event, delegates from the two countries expressed their pleasures at the developments of the bilateral relations in various fields since the 4th dialogue in Washington DC last June. They also exchanged measures to boost the ties in time to come.
Both sides agreed to step up exchange of high-ranking delegations and cooperation in highly prioritized areas like economics, trade, invsetment, science and technology, education, climate change adaptation, and surmounting war legacies.
The two countries vowed to beef up cooperation in prevention of weapon of mass destruction proliferation, anti-terrorism, drug and prostitution prevention, maritime security, natural disaster relief, and international peace keeping activities.
Regarding regional and international security situation, the delegates stressed the need to continue cooperation at international forums like ARF, ADMM+, EAS, and LMI.
They unanimously underlined the importance of maintainging peace, stability, maritime safety and freedom in the East Sea as it is the common interest of countries in the region and the world.
All territorial disputes in the East Sea must be solved through peaceful negotiations on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Declaration on the conduct of parties in the East Sea (DOC) and working towards a Code of Conduct (COC), agreed the delegates.
The next dialogue is scheduled to take place in Washington D.C. in 2013.
By Huong Giang