ASEAN needs to continue to unite and bring into full play its role to
ensure peace, security and development in the region, Prime Minister
Nguyen Tan Dung has said.
Speaking at the 22nd
ASEAN Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Dung emphasised these
efforts are also necessary to enhance cooperation to effectively cope
with current challenges such as the global economic crisis, natural
disasters, climate change, maritime security and epidemics.
In order to fulfil the targets, ASEAN should make the best use of
cooperation tools and mechanisms such as the Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation (TAC), the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty
(SEANWFZ), the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea
(DOC), the Declaration on the East Asia Summit on principles for
mutually beneficial relations, the ASEAN Regional Forum and ASEAN
Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, he said.
Regarding
the East Sea issue, the PM proposed the ten-member association raise
their united voice for peace, stability, maritime security and safety
in the East Sea.
He noted the effective
implementation of commitments and agreements such as the Declaration on
Six-point Principles on the East Sea, and the ASEAN-China joint
statement on the 10 th anniversary of the DOC signing, the settlement
of disputes by peaceful measures, the respect of international law –
especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) –
and the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Affirming Vietnam ’s support for Thailand as the
coordinator in the ASEAN and China dialogue relations, Dung
underlined that the two sides need to accelerate negotiations to
finalise the COC on the occasion of the 10 th anniversary of the
ASEAN-China partnership.
The leader praised Brunei
as the 2013 ASEAN Chair and highlighted the group’s priorities,
including the formation of the ASEAN Community by 2015 and the Roadmap
for an ASEAN Community based on three pillars, namely ASEAN
Political-Security, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN
Social-Cultural Community.
Dung’s views were
shared by other ASEAN leaders, who agreed that the East Sea issue
is a matter of concern of the entire association as it relates to peace
and security in the region.
On this occasion,
participating countries raised their concern over the tension in the
Korean peninsula, and called on relevant parties to restrain for a
peaceful, stable and nuclear-weapon-free peninsula.
They agreed to promote ASEAN’s central role in the evolving regional
architecture and enhance cooperation with partners such as Japan,
China, India, the US, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the
EU.
The partners are encouraged to strengthen
cooperation and contribute to peace, security, stability and trust
building and development in the region.
Themed “Our People, Our Future Together”, the event is the first ASEAN summit this year under the chairmanship of Brunei.-VNA