(VOVworld)- The ASEAN Community will officially be set up on December 31st, 2015. The Politics-Security Pillar plays a key role, amidst political complications in the region and tension in the East Sea. ASEAN is strengthening its unity and raising its role in addressing regional and global security issues. As an active member of the bloc, Vietnam has contributed significantly to this process.
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The establishment of the ASEAN Politics-Security Community is aimed at improving political and security cooperation between ASEAN members and mobilizing partners’ contribution to enhancing peace, equality, democracy and conciliation for ASEAN members. The ASEAN Politics-Security Community promotes a comprehensive approach to security, which encompasses politics, economics, culture-society, and environment. It is aimed at strengthening political cooperation, building and sharing common norms for conduct, promoting the non-violence trend and dispute settlement through peaceful means, preventing and addressing conflicts, expanding relations with partners, and maintaining ASEAN’s central role in the region’s structure.
ASEAN’s role in regional security structure
In 43 years, ASEAN has developed into a 10-member bloc that contributes to maintaining peace and security in the region and helps its members expand their foreign relations and integrate into the world. ASEAN is playing a bigger role in the regional security structure. It has expanded cooperation with other partners within ASEAN+1, ASEAN+ 3, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
But the bloc is facing numerous difficulties including sovereignty disputes. This requires the bloc to further boost regional cooperation, soon adopt a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, respect international law and maintain peace and security in the region. Addressing the 26th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN President and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak highlighted the importance of unity in addressing emerging security challenges.
Vietnam contributes to ASEAN’s Politics-Security Community
Vietnam’s development has been closely associated with ASEAN since its entry 20 years ago. Vietnam has always upheld solidarity within the bloc, persistently pursuing the principles of self-restraint, not complicating the situation, resolving disputes through peaceful means in line with international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and abiding by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and soon adopting a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh addressed a recent ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: “ASEAN countries agreed on the need to accelerate the signing of a COC between ASEAN and China. The COC will serve as a tool to ensure peace, security and safety of navigation as well as stability in the East Sea. This is a concern of not only Vietnam but also other countries inside and outside the region. Vietnam has introduced a range of initiatives on trust building and ASEAN standards including the Declaration on the Treaty of ASEAN Amity which has served as standards for the whole region to build peace and stability in after 2015.
ASEAN is promoting its central role and contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region. Vietnam is working with other ASEAN member countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation to realize the vision on an ASEAN Community with political and economic connectivity and social responsibility”, where everyone lives in peace, security and sustainable stability and enjoys durable economic growth, prosperity and social advances.