(VOVWORLD) - Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet urged ASEAN and China to make new progress and create favorable conditions for the negotiation of a code of conduct in the East Sea (COC).
 Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet, Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam at the 31st ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Consultation. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
At the just-concluded 31st ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Consultation in Ningbo city in China, Mr. Viet commended recent strides in COC negotiations, reaffirmed ASEAN’s principled stance on the East Sea, and stressed the need for self-restraint to avoid complicating the situation for the common goal of peace, security, safety, and stability in the East Sea.
The 2-day meeting was part of a series of annual dialogues between ASEAN senior officials and partners to review and discuss how to further promote cooperation and prepare for the ASEAN Summit and ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meetings slated for the second half of 2025.
Deputy Minister Viet proposed orientations for cooperation including effectively implementing decisions and agreements between ASEAN and Chinese leaders; strengthening response to cybercrime, transnational crime, and online scams; and expanding sub-regional collaboration, including the Mekong sub-region, in dealing with water security, sustainable water resources management, and climate change.
On this occasion, the Vietnamese diplomat met with his Chinese counterpart Sun Weidong to discuss bilateral relations and Vietnam-China coordination at multilateral mechanisms and forums like ASEAN and the UN.