Singapore (VNA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minhattended the 19th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, theeighth East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 25th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Singapore on August 4.

Thesemeetings took place within the framework of the 51st ASEAN ForeignMinisters’ Meeting (AMM-51) that officially opened in Singapore on August 2with the participation of foreign ministers from ten member countries  of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN).

DeputyPM and FM Minh applauded efforts to expand cooperation of ASEAN+3 (China, theRepublic of Korea (RoK), Japan) in such areas as digital connectivity,e-commerce and smart urban in order to narrow development gap, and promotemicro, small-and medium-sized enterprises, food security as well as responsesto natural disasters and diseases.

Heaffirmed that Vietnam will continue to constructively participate in cooperationactivities of ASEAN+3.

Minhand other delegates at the event reiterated the important role played byASEAN+3 in promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity, looking towardsbuilding a community in East Asia in the long run.

Theynoted that trade turnover between ASEAN and China, the RoK and Japan in 2017made up 32 percent of the ten-member group’s total, and 27 percent of touriststo ASEAN came from Northeast Asian nations.

Theministers voiced their support for free multilateral trade and equality in theregion, and agreed on initiatives to step up collaboration between ASEAN andthe three countries in food security, education, culture, exchange betweenresidents, health care and issues relating to youths and the elderly.

Duringthe eighth EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Minh said efforts and resourcesshould be focused on fully implementing the Manila Action Plan for 2018-2022and backing the adoption of the statement on cooperation in response toemerging transnational issues at the 13th EAS.

Heheld that the EAS members have potential for maritime cooperation andconnectivity, which also match the interests and demands for collaboration in theregion.

Theofficial shared concern of the EAS countries over militarisation activitiesthat have eroded trust and increased tensions in the East Sea.

Atthe event, ministers from ASEAN and its eight partners of China, Japan, theRoK, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US consented to enhanceresult-oriented cooperation in a range of realms like environment-energy,education, finance, health care-diseases, natural disaster management,connectivity, economy-trade, food security and maritime affiliation.

Someexpressed their deep concern over the recent militarisation activities in theEast Sea and demanded no actions that would complicate the situation andunilaterally change the status quo in the area.

Alldisputes should be addressed peacefully in line with international law,especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), and onthe basis of respect for legal and diplomatic processes, they said.

Addressingthe 25th ARF, Deputy PM and FM Minh suggested the ARF focus oneffectively materialising the Hanoi Action Plan and make more renovations inoperational method in order to flexibly adapt to regional and internationalchanges.

Heused this occasion to announce Vietnam’s initiatives to host an ARF workshop on enhancing cooperation among lawenforcement forces at sea, and another on applying the UNCLOS 1982 andinternational legal tools to cope with marine challenges.

The 25th ARF brought together foreignministers from the ASEAN member countries and its ten dialogue partners(Australia, Canada, China, the EU, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic ofKorea, Russia, and the US), along with Papua New Guinea, the Democratic People’sRepublic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

At the forum, the ministers agreed to adopt theARF statement on disaster relief cooperation, the list of the ARF’s activitiesin 2018 and 2019, and the ARF’s work plans on maritime security and disasterrelief in 2018-2020.

Discussing the regional and global situation,they underscored the importance of a rule-based international order and the roleof multilateral organisations.

The ministers also voiced concerns over emergingsecurity challenges, including terrorism, trans-national crimes, marinesecurity, cyber security, and natural disasters.

They reaffirmed the significance of maintainingand promoting peace, security, stability, and freedom of navigation and aviationin the East Sea, and settling disputes based on international law and the 1982UNCLOS as well as respect for diplomatic and legal processes. 

They said concerned parties should not use orthreaten to use force, and not carry out militarisation activities, while fullyand effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea (DOC), towards reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.-VNA