ASEAN, Russia leaders underline importance of international law in East Sea

ASEAN and Russia leaders shared the importance and common interest of maintaining peace and security in Asia-Pacific as well as the role and contribution of ASEAN and Russia in addressing the current security and development challenges. Photo: VGP

 Under the slogan “Towards Strategic Partnership for the Sake of the Common Good”, the leaders discussed on regional and international situation, reviewed the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership over the past two decades and figured out major orientations as well as concrete measures to lift up the bilateral ties to a new height.

In political-security sphere, Russia has actively participated in all key ASEAN-led forums and mechanisms and made increasingly important contributions to peace, stability and development ion the region.

For economic aspect, the two-way trade volume increased to over US$20 billion and Russian arrivals to the bloc rose to about 2.5 million.

Leaders to the Summit, however, said potential remains vast, thus both sides need to double efforts to deepen the bilateral relations, especially in ASEAN’s priority areas.

The leaders approved Sochi Declaration to lay a firm basis for the advancement of the ASEAN-Russia relationship in the future.

Regarding regional and international issues of common concern, the leaders shared the importance and common interest of maintaining peace and security in Asia-Pacific as well as the role and contribution of ASEAN and Russia in addressing the current security and development challenges.

ASEAN leaders highly valued Russia’s role, hoping for Russia’s continued active contribution to the bloc’s cooperation mechanisms and its support for ASEAN’s central role in the region.

Both Russia and ASEAN shared the same position that ensuring peace, stability and security of aviation and navigation in the East Sea is conducive to peace and development in the region and the world.

Both sides gave prominence to the position of settling disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, avoiding the use or threat to use force and any actions that may further complicate the situation, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and working towards early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the Sea Sea.

Speaking at the summit, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed that peace and security in the East Sea is vital to peace and security in the region and the world.

Meanwhile, ASEAN countries voiced their deep concerns over the East Sea situation, saying unilateral actions have changed the status quo in the East Sea, gone against the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and international law, intensified tensions,  eroded trust, and threatened peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

PM Phuc underlined the urgent need of exercising restraint, stopping unilateral actions, demilitarizing, accelerating dialogues and negotiations to settle disputes, and achieving substantial progress in building the Code of Conduct.

The Vietnamese Government chief also praised the constructive role and contribution of Russia to peace, security and cooperation in Southeast Asia over the past years, calling for Russia’s more support for the maintenance of peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation and for the peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea in line with international law and regional agreements.