A virtual conference is held by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 25 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). Photo: the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Former Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien made the statement at a conference held by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 25.

Organised to mark the 20th anniversary of the DOC, the virtual event brought together incumbent and former Foreign Ministers of ASEAN member states, including those joining the signing of the document in 2002, as well as a number of scholars from both sides, VietnamPlus said.

Representatives from Vietnam also comprised Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai and Vice Chairman of the National Boundary Commission under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Dong.

Vice Chairman of the National Boundary Commission under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Dong at the event. Photo: VNA

The event featured three sessions discussing the historic moment of the signing, the results and prospects for the DOC implementation, and the progress and direction for consultations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China.

Nien emphasised that the DOC was the first important document signed between ASEAN and a partner country. It reaffirms respect and commitment of the parties to freedom of navigation and aviation in the South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea) and to peacefully settling disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, he said.

Work together to build a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation

In his remarks, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed that the successful signing and implementation of the DOC provides important inspirations, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

First, peace and stability in the South China Sea is an important precondition for regional development. Second, countries in the region are the ones who have the final say on properly handling the South China Sea issue. Third, the East Asian way is an effective mean to build and uphold consensus.

“We must work together to truly build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation,” he said.

Photo: aseanbriefing.com

Wang called on concerned parties to continue to hold the bottom line of peace, promote dialogue and consultation, deepen maritime cooperation, and advance COC negotiations.

Incumbent FMs from ASEAN member states held that ASEAN and China must continue fully implementing the DOC and provide an enabling environment for the talks on the COC; while their predecessors recalled the necessity of the DOC and the process towards its signing two decades ago and reiterated its crucial role in maintaining regional peace, security, stability, cooperation and prosperity.

Delegates held that the results of COC negotiations have been fairly positive and substantive so far and that both sides must practice self-restraint, avoid any actions that may complicate the situation, and respect rights and interests of concerned parties in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS./.

Vietnam Asks Taiwan to Stop Illegal Live-Fire Drills The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said Taiwan’s holding military drills off Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago is a serious violation of its sovereignty.

Vietnam Request China to Halt Militarization on Bien Dong Sea Vietnam has full legal grounds and historical evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes in accordance with international law ...

Vietnam Fisheries Society Opposes China’s Bien Dong Sea Fishing Ban The Vietnam Fisheries Society on May 4 voiced its strong opposition to China’s unilateral fishing ban in the Bien Dong Sea, known internationally as the ...