Top legislator raises East Sea issue at AIPA 40

TIN LIÊN QUAN
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National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan addresses at the 40th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Bangkok, August 26, 2019.

Chairwoman Ngan made the point at the first plenary session of the 40th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly on August 26 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Chairwoman Ngan said that AIPA members who were present today affirmed that AIPA and AIPA parliamentarians were ready to stand by ASEAN to build the community.

Over the past year, the world witnessed fast and complicated upheavals. The ASEAN community continued to cope with challenges including strategic competition among big countries, traditional and non-traditional security issues, and economic risks. However, ASEAN still attained encouraging outcomes and its member states maintained positive economic growth rates (at 5.1% on average in 2018).

In addition, "complicated developments in the region made us concerned," said the top legislator. At the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, countries voiced concern over unilateral activities in the East Sea which violated sovereignty and legitimate rights of relevant countries; undermined confidence; and negatively damage peace, security, stability, freedom of navigation and aviation in the region.

The Chairwoman stressed the importance of highlighting the principles and common awareness which have been widely recognized by ASEAN member states and the international community in the East Sea and complying with international law, and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Ngan called upon relevant sides to exercise self-restraint; avoid militarization; and fully comply with Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC)

Ms. Ngan underlined the necessity to consolidate solidarity, unity, the central role of ASEAN; cement and deepen ties with partners to raise ASEAN’s role as a momentum for accelerating progresses of dialogue, cooperation, and development in the region.

The top legislator affirmed that Viet Nam would continue to pursue the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, openness, multilateralism and diversification of external relations and active international integration.

The Vietnamese National Assembly will proactively partake in and be a responsible member of AIPA and uphold the partnership between AIPA and ASEAN.

Ms. Ngan suggested AIPA attach importance to internationally legal compliance, formulation of ASEAN’s behavior principles and standards, maintaining of ASEAN’s central role in regional security structure, effective response to issues which could affect peace, security, and stability in the region including traditional and non-traditional threats.

The Chairwoman proposed AIPA consolidate and renovate organization and operation to become an important partner of ASEAN in the process of ASEAN Community building.

In 2020, Viet Nam will assume the UNSC non-permanent seat and ASEAN Chairmanship. The Vietnamese National Assembly will hold AIPA Chairmanship. Hence, Viet Nam will spare no effort to promote AIPA to become an effective inter-parliamentary body which represent aspiration and rights of ASEAN citizens.

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