Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Photo Source: Internet)

 (VOVworld)- Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh says ensuring peace, stability and security in the East Sea is in the interest of all countries, and that concerned parties need to settle disputes in a peaceful manner in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and should fully implement the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea while finalizing the Code of Conduct in the East Sea. He spoke in Phnom Penh Monday where ASEAN foreign ministers are gathering to attend an ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, a meeting of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council, and an ASEAN Coordinating Council meeting. ASEAN ministers agree that ASEAN should be more active in contributing to peace, security, stability and cooperation in the region and enhancing the role of political security cooperation tools such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in East Asia, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+). At these meetings, Mr. Minh shared Vietnam’s viewpoints on ASEAN’s priority areas for strengthening solidarity, building of a strong and united ASEAN community, and enhancing the bloc’s role in promoting peace, security, stability and cooperation in the region. Mr Minh said TAC, along SEANWFZ, DOC, and ARF continue to be effective tools for strengthening political security. He urged ASEAN members and nuclear nations to finalize preparations for signing the SEANWFZ protocol this year.