Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh proposed that China speed up negotiations for a Code of Conduct (COC) with ASEAN to resolutely tackle maritime disputes in the East Sea.
Meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Myanmar on August 8 on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), Minh said Vietnam will join the negotiation process in a constructive manner and will do its utmost to promote cooperation and understanding between ASEAN and China, for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
He affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to developing the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership with China, but said bilateral relationship was affected recently after China illegally placed its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea, violating the country’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction.
Reiterating Vietnam’s stance of settling all maritime disputes through peaceful means, Minh called on both parties to make an effort to maintain peace, stability at sea, better control disputes, not further complicate the situation, and most importantly not let similar actions happen in the future.
He said it is important for parties concerned to tackle East Sea disputes by fully observing international law, the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and a Vietnam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues.
He stressed an early formulation of a Code of Conduct (COC) - a more legally binding document than DOC, will help resolve the current situation in the East Sea.
Once again, Minh extended condolences to the government and people of China over the great human and property losses caused by the recent powerful earthquake in Yunnan province.
For his part, Foreign Minister Wang emphasized that China and Vietnam should increase cooperation for shared development and resolve pending issues, including the East Sea issue.
