(VOVworld)- The 47^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings have concluded in Nay Pi Taw, Myanmar. The meetings have gained major results proving the bloc’s unity in building its common goals. Attending the meetings, the Vietnamese delegation has contributed to promoting ASEAN’s central role and expanding ASEAN’s cooperation with partner countries.

The 47^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is the sole opportunity for ASEAN to meet its 10 partners. During more than 20 meetings held within 2 days, the delegates reviewed and mapped out orientations to promote cooperation within ASEAN as well as between ASEAN and its partners. They discussed regional and global issues and achieved considerable results.

Promoting ASEAN’s common voice

At the meetings, ASEAN member countries highlighted the importance of maintaining an environment of peace, security, stability and cooperation in the region. ASEAN’s unity has been represented in their common perception of recently emerging challenges. ASEAN and its partners attached great importance to codes of conducts and cooperation frameworks like the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus. The Ministers paid particular attention to the East Sea issue. They expressed their deep concerns about recent tension in the region and emphasized the need to avoid similar problems in the future. The Joint Communiqué of the 47^th AMM and other Presidium statements highlighted the principles of respecting international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the need to resolve disputes through peaceful means, to practice restraint, not to threaten or use force and to fully abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

Promoting practical relations between ASEAN and its partners

At the meetings, ASEAN promoted current action plans between ASEAN and its partners and prepared its future plans. All partner countries agreed to support ASEAN’s central role and pledged to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN in building an ASEAN community and enhancing connectivity, trade, investment and finance.

Vietnam contributes to success of ASEAN meetings

Vietnam made active and responsible contributions to promoting ASEAN’s unity and common voice. Vietnam highlighted the importance of ASEAN’s unity, central role and responsibility in formulating the regional structure and strategies related to peace, security, stability and cooperation in the region including the East Sea issue. All countries agreed with Vietnam’s stance in dealing with the East Sea issue which was included in the several documents of the ASEAN meetings including the Joint Communiqué of the 47^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Vietnam supported ASEAN’s efforts to expand and deepen its relations with partner countries, create a favourable environment, mobilize resources to build an ASEAN Community, promote cooperation in connectivity, trade and economics, and narrow development gaps. As a coordinator of ASEAN-EU dialogues, Vietnam co-chaired the ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting, proposed and promoted several measures to strengthen bilateral ties between ASEAN and the EU toward a strategic partnership. Vietnam, together with other ASEAN countries, has made every effort to strengthen solidarity and ASEAN’s central role toward a strong and united ASEAN Community by 2015.

Anh Huyen