Japanese Deputy FM expresses concerns over recent developments in East Sea

TIN LIÊN QUAN
	Vietnam welcomes countries’ standpoints on East Sea issue: Foreign Ministry spokesperson
	Vietnam weighs up options in South China Sea dispute: Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong

The 35th ASEAN-Japan Forum is held virtually, October 14, 2020.

Delegates to the event reviewed the ASEAN-Japan cooperation progress, including the implementation of the outcomes of the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting and preparations for the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit and discussed international and regional issues of common concerns.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeo Mori asserted that Japan will enhance cooperation with the Southeast Asian nations, attaching importance to the ASEAN centrality.

Japan advocates the ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) , expecting to coordinate with the bloc in implementing the AOIP, he asserted.

The Japanese diplomat spoke highly of ASEAN’s efforts in the COVID-19 pandemic fight, affirming Japan's support for the grouping in containing the pandemic, mitigating negative impacts of COVID-19 on socio-economic development and boosting sustainable recovery.

Japan will help ASEAN build the ASEAN Center For Disease Control in a bid to help the Association strengthen response to new infectious diseases, he added.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Mori underlined the importance of peace and stability in the region, expressing concerns over recent developments in the East Sea.

Mori called for dialogues and enhanced efforts in trust-building, self-restraint, non-militarization, avoidance of use or threat of force, and settlement of disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Japan hopes that the relevant parties fully and effective implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon complete the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law and the UNCLOS.

For his side, Deputy Foreign Minister Dung highly valued the positive developments in ASEAN-Japan cooperation despite challenges and difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, calling on ASEAN and Japan to continue close cooperation in controlling the pandemic.

Dung re-emphasized ASEAN's principled positions on the East Sea enshrined in the Chairman's Statement of the 36th ASEAN Summit, in which the regional leaders reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and over-flight above the East Sea and recognise the benefits of having the East Sea as a sea of peace, stability and prosperity.

Activities in Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission have no merit: Spokeswoman Any activities in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago without the country’s permission are meaningless, spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang said on ...

Vietnam reacts to China’s tweets over East Sea claims The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 16 made comments on China’s recent East Sea claims tweets, saying the respect for international law must ...

Australia affirms continued support for freedom of navigation in East Sea Australia will continue to strongly advocate the freedom of navigation through the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam), Prime Minister Scott Morrison ...