Vietnam calls on parties in Myanmar to exercise full restraint

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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attends the virtual Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, March 2, 2021. Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

Minh made the above statement at the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting which was held digitally on March 2, the VGP News reported.

He said that escalating violence and tensions, which have caused human losses in Myanmar recently, have affected peace and stability in not only Myanmar but also the whole region.

He suggested ASEAN should coordinate closely and promote the role and effectiveness of the existing mechanisms and tools, including working with global organizations and mechanisms such as the United Nations to help Myanmar stabilize the situation for the benefits of its people and nation as well as for peace and stability in the region, and for solidarity and prestige of ASEAN.

Minh took the occasion to reaffirm Viet Nam’s commitment to work with other countries in pushing back the COVID-19 pandemic.

He voiced support for the ASEAN Chair 2021 to fulfill its tasks and accelerate the building of the ASEAN Community.

Political stability essential to achieving peaceful, stable and prosperous ASEAN Community

Delegates attend the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. Photo: VNA

According to the Chair’s Statement on the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the delegates reiterated that the political stability in ASEAN Member States is essential to achieving a peaceful, stable and prosperous ASEAN Community. They underscored the need to maintain ASEAN’s unity, centrality, and relevance in the region and to collectively address common challenges.

They noted the current progress on developing an ASEAN Community post-2025 vision and acknowledged the importance of continuity in this multi-year endeavour, such as having it co-chaired by a permanent shepherd for the duration of the visioning exercise together with the incumbent ASEAN Chair.

They reaffirmed support for Brunei’s priorities and deliverables under the theme of “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”, and agreed to develop a Strategic and Holistic Initiative to Link ASEAN Responses to Emergencies and Disasters (ASEAN SHIELD) across the three ASEAN Community pillars.

The ministers also discussed ASEAN’s collective response to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and reiterated their commitment to implement the initiatives in the Implementation Plan of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework in a timely and effective manner.

The member countries agreed to maintain ASEAN’s proactive and outward-looking approach in the conduct of ASEAN’s external relations based on shared interest, constructive engagements, and mutual benefits. Photo: asean-agrifood.org

The member countries agreed to maintain ASEAN’s proactive and outward-looking approach in the conduct of ASEAN’s external relations based on shared interest, constructive engagements, and mutual benefits, which can contribute to ASEAN’s Community building and development cooperation efforts, as well as efforts to ensure swift, comprehensive, and sustainable regional recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exchanging views on regional and international issues of concern, including the situation in the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula, they underscored the need to maintain ASEAN’s unity, centrality and relevance in the region and to collectively address common challenges.

The countries expressed concern on the situation in Myanmar and called on all parties to refrain from instigating further violence, and for all sides to exercise utmost restraint as well as flexibility. They also called on all parties concerned to seek a peaceful solution, through constructive dialogue, and practical reconciliation in the interests of the people and their livelihood. In this regard, they expressed ASEAN’s readiness to assist Myanmar in a positive, peaceful and constructive manner./.

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