ASEAN FMs gather in Bangkok ahead of regional summit

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on June 22, 2019

The regional foreign ministers welcomed Thailand’s efforts in deploying initiatives to concretize this year’s theme “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability.”

They discussed orientations to accelerate ASEAN relations with its partners, considering aspirations of Peru and South Africa to join the ASEAN Treaty on Amity and Cooperation (TAC), and screening preparations for the ASEAN-RoK Commemorative Summit which is expected to take place at the end of this year.

The foreign ministers underlined that ASEAN needs to maintain solidarity and unity, consolidate and improve the effectiveness of ASEAN-led mechanisms in order to timely and fruitfully cope with challenges and to ensure the ASEAN centrality in the region.

They also debated on orientations to further strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism, extreme violence, trans-national crime, cybersecurity, and marine debris.

ASEAN Secretary-General and Foreign Ministers to the meeting

Regarding regional and international situation, the foreign ministers reaffirmed their resolve to continue active collaboration with the Government of Myanmar to seek proper solutions to stabilize situation in Rakhai, thus contributing to peace and stability in the region.

The foreign ministers acknowledged progress in the talks of a Code of Conducts in the East Sea (COC), underlining the importance of exercising self-restraint and avoiding activities that may lead to wrong calculations.

They called for full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and for formulation of a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The diplomats congratulated Viet Nam on winning non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council with historic number of positive votes, expressing their belief that Viet Nam and Indonesia will successfully undertake the role, making positive contributions to peace, stability, dialogue and cooperation across the globe.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy PM, FM Minh urged ASEAN to continue maintaining solidarity and unity, considering it as the most valuable asset in building ASEAN Community and in safeguarding the central role of the bloc.

Minh shared the views on on-going complicated situation in the East Sea, calling for more efforts to maintain dialogue and cooperation for peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

He also called for upholding self-restraint and avoiding unilateral actions, including militarization, in the East Sea.

ASEAN and China should intensify cooperation to ensure a favorable environment for successful talks on an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea, Minh said.

He also called for strong cooperation in addressing maritime challenges, including illegal fishing and marine debris.

Minh took the occasion to thanks for countries’ support for Viet Nam to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, assuring that Viet Nam will strive to enhance cooperation between the United Nations Security Council with regional organizations, including ASEAN.