Phnom Penh (VNA)– ASEAN foreign ministers shared the view that solidarity and unanimity remainthe key factor in the bloc’s activities while attending their meeting retreat (AMMR),held in Phnom Penh on February 16 - 17.

Talking to the press, Vu Ho,acting head of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam,said this was the first face-to-face meeting among the ASEAN foreign ministersafter a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The successful organisation ofthis event reflected both the determination of Chair Cambodia and the commonaspiration for resuming the close connectivity among the foreign ministers andmaintaining intensive and extensive discussions about regional and internationalissues.

He noted ASEAN is facing anumber of challenges, but the ministers discussed all the challenges straightforwardlyand sincerely and identified cooperation orientations for successful response. Theyconcluded that solidarity and unanimity remain the key factor in the ASEANactivities, calling on countries to set peace and stability as their target and dialogue and cooperation as the tool.

During this meeting, heldboth in person and virtually, the Vietnamese side’s ideas focused onenhancing ASEAN solidarity; promoting the Community building, economicrecovery, and COVID-19 response; and expanding and intensifying the bloc’sexternal relations. The delegation also made thorough suggestions relevant tothe emerging complicated issues like the East Sea situation, the Myanmar situation,and superpowers’ competition.

Minister of Foreign AffairsBui Thanh Son, who led the Vietnamese delegation, proposed such initiatives as the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates in theregion, the effective use of the ASEAN Fund for COVID-19 Response, and the continuationof narrowing the development gap in ASEAN via sub-regional cooperation,according to Ho.

He cited Son as saying thatASEAN should have a comprehensive, balanced, and harmonious approach to itsrelations with the international community, especially major countries, andthat while considering countries’ proposals, it should base itself on the region’sinterests, put ASEAN at the centre, maintain friendly ties, and minimiseimpacts of countries’ differences and disputes on regional development.

With regard to the internationaland regional situation, the minister also delivered important remarks on theEast Sea and Myanmar. Together with other foreign ministers, he reiteratedASEAN’s principled stance and stressed the importance of ensuring peace,stability, and security in the East Sea, complying with international law,resolving disputes by peaceful means, fully and effectively implementing theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon finalisingan efficient and substantive Code of Conduct in the waters that matchesinternational law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Ho noted AMMR participantsalso agreed to build a joint statement marking the DOC’s 20th anniversary, thereby affirming the bloc’s resolve to develop the East Sea intoa sea of peace and cooperation where vessels can pass freely and safely, and onwhich countries can have straightforward dialogue and sincere cooperation withrespect for international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

In terms of the Myanmar situation,Minister Son affirmed the country is a member of the “ASEAN family”, and itsinternal issues will be decided by its people. He recommended that via the implementationof the Five-Point Consensus adopted by ASEAN leaders in April, the blocand Myanmar bring into play their cooperation and sense of responsibilitytowards the community, assist the ASEAN Chair’s special envoy to performduties, and facilitate relevant parties in seeking solutions to existing differences and disputes.

The minister also highlightedVietnam’s commitment to work closely with and support the special envoy to fulfillhis duties, emphasising that ASEAN will maintain humanitarian aid for Myanmarin any circumstances, Ho added./.