Hanoi (VNA) - Solidarity and unity are the foundation for ASEAN’sstrength, especially in difficult times, which is clearly demonstrated in thecurrent fight against COVID-19, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son toldthe 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-54) that opened on August 2 via videoconference.

Sharing the significance of vaccines in pandemic responseefforts, Son proposed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bring into full play cooperation opportunities withpartners, especially in procurement and technology transfer for vaccineproduction.

In the face of serious socio-economic impacts of thepandemic, more than ever, ASEAN needs to strongly promote the internal strengthof a resilient and cohesive Community, affirm its role and responsibility tothe development of the region, he stated, adding that Vietnam maintains itsactive and responsible participation in the process of building the ASEANCommunity Vision beyond 2025.

The minister suggested ASEAN continue topromote the role of ASEAN-led mechanisms, uphold solidarity, promote internalresources, ensure a common voice and fair approach in relations with partners,and maintain the bloc’s central role in the regional structure.

He shared his concerns about complicated developments inregional hotspots such as the Korean Peninsula and the East Sea as well as non-traditionalsecurity challenges such as cyber-security, climate change, sea level riseand marine environment degradation.

Son said that although peace, security,safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea are the commoninterests of all countries, the region has still witnessed actions contrary tointernational law, including actions that damage the marine environment.

The minister proposed ASEAN maintain its principled stanceand uphold international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law ofthe Sea (UNCLOS), stressing the importance of the convention as the basis fordetermining the legitimate rights and interests of coastal states as well asthe framework that regulates all activities in all seas and oceans.

Son also emphasised the neccesity to implementthe 5-point Consensus and proposed speeding up humanitarian assistance to the Myanmarpeople in the context that the country is being heavily affected by the COVID-19pandemic.

During the meeting, ASEAN Foreign Ministers discussed the buildingprocess of the ASEAN Community, the bloc’s external relations and regional andinternational issues of mutual concern.

They welcomed initiatives such as the ASEAN Shield tostrengthen ASEAN’s concerted power to respond to natural disasters and promotemultilateralism, and the Consolidated Strategy on the Fourth IndustrialRevolution.

They welcomed Vietnam's hosting of ASEAN forum on sub-regional cooperationlater this year.

The ministers emphasised the need to intensify cooperationin pandemic response, suggesting the urgent implementation of the ASEAN ActionPlan on Vaccine Security and Self Reliance, the ASEAN Regional Reserve of MedicalSupplies for Public Health Emergencies as well as the ASEAN ComprehensiveRecovery Framework.

Participants also discussed measures to strengthen anddeepen ASEAN’s relationship with its partners, uphold the central role ofASEAN, affirm the value of ASEAN-led mechanisms in promoting dialogue,cooperation and participation, and active and constructive contributions ofpartners to peace, security and development in the region.

They agreed to establish Dialogue Partnership with the UKand Sectoral Partnership ưith the UAE; and welcomed and approved theproposals to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) bythe Netherlands, Greece, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Denmark.

The ministers took the occasion to exchange views on manyregional and international issues of common concern such as the East Sea, theKorean Peninsula and the Middle East. They reaffirmed the importance ofmaintaining peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviationin the East Sea and expressed their concerns over the reinforcement and serious incidents, including actions that damage the marine environment.

They asserted their consistent stance on addressing disputesby peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS,calling for parties to restrain, and not to militarise, not to use or threaten touse force.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of the full andeffective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea (DOC), welcomed the resumption of negotiations on a Code of Conduct inthe East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China, stressed the need to maintain afavourable environment for COC negotiations and to continue efforts towards aneffective, practical COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

The countries also emphasised the necessity to implement the 5-point Consensus comprehensivelyand promptly, while affirming ASEAN’s desire to support Myanmar to overcomedifficulties and find solutions to the current situation, and providehumanitarian assistance for the nation to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

On August 2 afternoon, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers are scheduledto attend meetings of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council (APSC),the ASEAN Coordinating Council, and the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone(SEANWFZ); and a dialogue with representatives of the ASEAN IntergovernmentalCommission on Human Rights (AICHR)./.