East Sea issue high on agenda of ASEAN meetings

After the meetings, Foreign Ministers agreed to support Brunei to issue a joint communiqué on East Sea issue after they unanimously reached a common stance on the issue, Vinh said.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers emphasized the bloc’s common principles of ensuring peace and stability in the East Sea, settling disputes through peaceful measures, respecting international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully and effectively observing DOC, and working towards the conclusion of COC.

The Foreign Ministers also stressed the need to strictly observe the related agreements, particularly, ASEAN’s six-point principles, joint declaration on the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of the signing of DOC, and commitment to conclusion of COC between ASEAN and China.

ASEAN member countries all agreed that East Sea issue is a common concern of the bloc as it relates to peace, stability, and security in the region, according to the communiqué.

To realize its targets, ASEAN member countries need to consolidate solidarity and further promote its central role.

With the importance of a more legally-binding COC, ASEAN Foreign Ministers tasked senior officials to actively work with Chinese side for early launch of COC negotiations.

The meetings aim to prepare for the 22^nd ASEAN Summit, which is scheduled for April 24-25 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

The upcoming summit is expected to discuss acceleration of the building of ASEAN Community and orientations for the bloc’s future, maintenance of solidarity, promotion of ASEAN’s central role in the region, and expansion of ASEAN’s external relations among others./.

                                                                                                                   By Hai Minh