Vietnamese Foreign
Minister Pham Quang Vinh has affirmed Vietnam ’s support for the
increased ASEAN – India strategic partnership in various fields at
their fifth annual dialogue which concluded in New Delhi , India ,
on February 20.
Addressing the two-day event, Vinh
said the dialogue takes place in the context that the region is facing
opportunities and challenges.
He added that while
the region is striving to maintain peace and stability as well as boost
economic connectivity, it is also coping with increasingly complicated
challenges, including non-traditional security challenges such as
natural disasters, epidemics, climate change, energy and food security,
and trans-national crime.
In such context, ASEAN’s
role in Community building as well as in its contribution to building an
environment for stability and development cooperation is crucial. For
this reason, ASEAN highly values India ’s role in such joint effort,
Vinh said.
Vinh also stressed the need to grasp an
overall picture of regional situation and existing strong foundation
between ASEAN and India , as well as recognize challenges relating to
regional peace and security, including traditional and non-traditional
security, and economic opportunities and potentials.
The Deputy FM said he hopes ASEAN members and other nations, including
India, will support the joint effort between ASEAN and related
countries in ensuring peace, stability and maritime security and safety
in the East Sea as well as the settlement of disputes by peaceful means
on the basis of respecting international law and conventions on the law
of the sea, including the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the
East Sea (DOC) and the ASE AN’s Six-Point Principles.-VNA