(VOVworld) - The East Asia Summit has become an important integral part of the regional structure in which ASEAN plays a crucial role. Addressing the 9th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Myanmar on Thursday, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that the region is facing traditional and non- traditional challenges including natural disasters, epidemics, transnational crime, climate change, threats to energy and maritime security, and territorial disputes. He recommended that the region adopt a long-term vision in order to build a regional architecture of peace, stability, and development.
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| Leaders attend the 9th East Asia Summit. (Photo: Xinhua) |
Prime Minister Dung said: “The East Asia Summit, as a dialogue of regional leaders, should increase consultations, talks, and cooperation for regional peace, security, and development, especially for greater trust and mutual understanding. We should do our utmost to adopt regional codes of conduct based on international law and existing agreements. I welcome proposals on enhancing East Asian cooperation and security, including a proposal on creating frameworks for partnership among nations.”
Regarding the East Sea issue, PM Nguyen Tan Dung reiterated that peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation are the mutual interest and concern of regional and non-regional countries. He called for greater efforts to comply with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, resolve disputes peacefully, not use or threaten to use force, fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), particularly exercising self-restraint and avoiding unilateral acts that escalate the situation or alter the status quo in the East Sea. Dung urged all parties to step up negotiations to quickly achieve a legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).