Vietnam backs international efforts to seek peaceful solutions

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made the statement at

the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM FMM13) in Myanmar’s capital city of Nay Pyi Taw on November 21.

The official called on members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to take collective action to cope with with current challenges and accentuated

impacts of traditional and non-traditional challenges, threats triggered by terrorism and extremism.

He noted that efforts to disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, have failed to meet expectations.

Minh also underlined the need for ASEM members to work hand in hand to make the Asia-Europe partnership stronger and more dynamic, while maintaining ASEM’s core values and principles of equality and mutual respect and benefits.

ASEAN countries have showed their major concern over developments on the Korean Peninsula, including recent ballistic missile launches and nuclear tests, he said.

The Vietnamese diplomat also reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for non- nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula as well as the country’s appeal to relevant parties to exercise self-restraint and resume dialogues to ease tensions and promote peace and stability on the peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region.

Vietnam and other ASEAN member nations are coordinating closely with the international community, including ASEM members, to ensure peace, stability, navigation and aviation security and safety in the East Sea, as well as the smooth trade routes inside and outside the region, he said.

It is essential to double joint efforts and commitments to settling disputes peacefully on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), respect for diplomatic and legal processes and exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate the situation, Minh emphasized.

"Vietnam welcomes the ratification of a framework of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) by ASEAN and China, as well as official negotiations for a more pragmatic and effective COC.

As an active member, Vietnam will continue working together with other ASEM members to contribute to maintaining peace, security and stability in Asia-Pacific and the world as a whole," he said.

During the meeting, the ministers adopted 15 new initiatives, including Vietnam’s initiative on the ASEM conference on climate action to achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The 12th ASEM Summit is set to be held in Brussels, Belgium, in October 2018 and the 14th ASEM FMM will be hosted by Spain in 2019.