Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minhchaired the online ASEAN-United Nations Ministerial Meeting on October 21 withthe participation of ASEAN foreign ministers, the President of the 75th sessionof the UN General Assembly, and the UN Secretary-General.

Presidentof the UN General Assembly’s 75th session Volkan Bozkir and UN Secretary-General AntónioGuterres emphasised that ASEAN is an indispensable partner, and the UN supportsthe bloc’s central role.

They also affirmed continuedsupport for ASEAN in community building, and that the UN highly values theeffective leadership and coordination capacity of Vietnam as ASEAN Chair in2020 in concurrently enhancing ties in COVID-19 control and promoting communitybuilding.

Talking about efforts to containCOVID-19, the UN officials pledged more assistance for ASEAN to minimise thepandemic’s socio-economic impacts via jointly boosting inclusive, resilient andsustainable recovery and implementing the bloc’s comprehensive recoveryframework.

The UN appreciates ASEAN’scontributions to ensuring regional and global peace and security, they noted,applauding contributions by Indonesia and Vietnam, which are ASEANrepresentatives at the UN Security Council.

Besides, they highlighted the UN’srecognition of ASEAN’s efforts to empower women and contribute to UNpeacekeeping operations, with an increasing rate of servicewomen and femaleofficers.

At the meeting, participantsapproved the ASEAN-UN plan of action for 2021-2025, stressing the importance oftechnical assistance and multi-sectoral cooperation.

They held that the effectiveimplementation of the mutual assistance roadmap for implementing the ASEAN CommunityVision 2025 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will practicallycontribute to sustainable development, ensure no one is left behind, andimprove the fight against epidemics and response to emerging challenges.

Discussing the regional and globalsituation, they reiterated the importance of peace, stability, and security inthe region, especially when threats from the COVID-19 pandemic to countriesstill linger.

Participants highlightedmultilateral cooperation and pledged to continue making efforts to build arules-based international order.

Officials once again underlined thegoal of turning the East Sea into a sea area of peace, stability, security, andsafety. They expressed the readiness to promote trust building and carry outpreventive diplomacy in the region on the basis of the UN Charter,international law, and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The meeting called for the fullimplementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC),along with the early finalisation of an efficient and effective Code of Conduct(COC) that is in line with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS so that theCOC will serve as a framework for all activities at sea.

Speaking at the event, Deputy PM andFM Minh spoke highly of the role of the UN – the centre for coordinatingcountries’ joint actions and international efforts to ensure peace and promotesustainable development.

Today’s ASEAN-UN relations havebecome a model for cooperation between the UN and other regional organisations,he said.

Representing Vietnam – ASEAN Chairthis year, he informed the UN officials about the bloc’s efforts insimultaneously building the community and curbing COVID-19 in the “Cohesive andResponsive” spirit.

On behalf of the bloc, Vietnamproposed the UN support ASEAN’s initiatives on COVID-19 response andcomprehensive recovery, including an ASEAN fund for COVID-19 response, astockpile of medical supplies, a regional centre for public health emergencies,and the ASEAN comprehensive recovery framework.

Minh lauded ASEAN and the UN’sresolve to ensure the supply of COVID-19 vaccines at reasonable prices for allpeople.

In terms of the East Sea issue, theDeputy PM and FM repeated ASEAN’s consistent viewpoint that had been affirmedat the 36th ASEAN Summit in June and the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetingin September.

He emphasised the necessity foravoiding actions that may escalate tensions, no militarisation, settlement ofdisputes by peaceful measures in accordance with international law, includingthe 1982 UNCLOS, and commitment to fully and effectively carrying out the DOCand continuing efforts to reach an efficient and effective COC that matchesinternational law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

At the meeting, Vietnam alsoinformed participants about preparations for the 11th ASEAN-UN Summit thisNovember and pledged to organise this event successfully./.