VINACHEM

ASEAN should unite and amplify a common voice in seeking peaceful solutions and calling for an end to wars and conflicts based on respect for international law, said Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, at the 45th ASEAN Summit (retreat session) in Vientiane, Laos, on October 9.

He said though peace is a major trend, conflicts and wars continue to occur, impacting all countries worldwide, disrupting supply chains and production lines, leading to increased costs for raw materials, energy, and transportation.

Sharing views on the issue of the East Sea known internationally as the South China Sea, the Prime Minister emphasized that disputes over maritime sovereignty in this region must be resolved through peaceful means based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He called on all parties to respect the interests and sovereign rights of the relevant countries, while stressing the importance of ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, a crucial transport route that accounts for 60% of global trade flow and affects all countries, especially those in the region.

He urged ASEAN member states to unite, strengthen their central role, and maintain a common stance on the East Sea issue.

With regard to the situation in Myanmar, the Prime Minister acknowledged the role of Laos as ASEAN Chair in 2024 and the previous rotating Chairs in seeking solutions based on the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar, though he noted that the effectiveness of implementation has been limited so far.

This reality requires ASEAN to adopt a new approach, he said, agreeing with solutions proposed by member states that the resolution for Myanmar must be determined by the people of Myanmar. He urged all parties involved in Myanmar to engage in dialogue and negotiation to end the conflict, ensuring that it does not adversely affect the population or lead to security repercussions in the region, including transnational crime and online fraud.

ASEAN should play a bridging role in facilitating dialogue and negotiation among the relevant parties, he suggested, adding strengthening solidarity and enhancing its central role are the core values that help the grouping overcome difficulties and challenges, and position it as a focal point for peace and cooperation.

Among other things, the Vietnamese Prime Minister also emphasized that ASEAN needs to be more proactive in seizing and leveraging opportunities for growth, promoting digital transformation and green development, addressing climate change, and exploring other emerging areas of potential cooperation.

At the summit, the leaders agreed to reinforce ASEAN’s principled stance on the East Sea, highlighting the need to observe the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law and the 1982 UNCLOS. They praised the efforts of the Lao Chair and the Chair’s special envoy on Myanmar, highlighting the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus as a guiding document for the bloc’s efforts to support Myanmar.

In the contest of a rapidly changing world, the leaders underscored the importance of promoting connectivity and resilience, maintaining solidarity and the grouping’s central role, and strengthening ASEAN’s capacity to confidently seize opportunities and build resilience to overcome challenges.  – Source: VOV –