Vietnam aims for successful building of ASEAN Community

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to stay closely engaged with the ASEAN for the successful building of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to stay closely engaged with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the successful building of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

Speaking at the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-47) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on August 8, Deputy PM Minh said ASEAN should maintain its momentum and central role in promoting regional economic connectivity by enhancing internal strength and deepening intra-bloc linkage. 

He also stressed the need for ASEAN to effectively realise free trade agreements with partners and speed up negotiations for a regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP). 

At the same time, the association should improve its capacity in dealing with non-traditional challenges such as maritime security and safety, natural disasters and epidemics, which have become frequent and seriously affect residents in the region, he said. 

It is also necessary for ASEAN to inherit and promote its achievements for the shaping of a long-term vision and strategy in order to bring the grouping to a new height after 2015, he added. 

Regarding the East Sea issue, Deputy PM Minh mentioned the complicated developments in the East Sea recently, especially after China illegally positioned its rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The act seriously violated international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and went against the Declaration on the Conduct of Party in the East Sea (DOC), he stressed. 

He underlined the serious consequences of the incident and urged the prevention of similar complicated events. At the same time, he called for measures to ensure the full and effective implementation of the DOC while working toward an early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), as well as the strict observance of international law and the UNCLOS. 

Deputy PM Minh also underscored the need to settle all disputes through peaceful measures with self-restraint and refraining from using or threatening to use force.