The
Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN+3 and
an informal consultation among East Asian Summit (EAS) senior officials, wrapped
up yesterday, June 10, in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam, Pham Quang Vinh. (Source: VNA)

Participating
countries reviewed in four days the implementation of decisions, discussed
issues of interest to the region and prepared for the 44th ASEAN Foreign
Ministers’ Meeting, the 18th ASEAN Regional Forum Meeting and other related
events to be held in July.

Member countries
attending (SOM), ASEAN and related meetings, emph-asised efforts to build an
ASEAN Community by 2015 and speed up co-operation between ASEAN member partners
for purposes of effectively dealing with peace, stability, cooking and energy
security, maritime security and safety, trans-national crimes, natural disaster
management, climate change and development of the region.

At (SOM), ASEAN+3 and
EAS, countries highlighted achieved progress and discussed the implementation of
ASEAN+3 and EAS programmes during 2003-2012, exchanging further views on the
EAS’s development.

Participants said the
EAS would continue being a forum for senior leaders to discuss strategic issues,
in either politics or security and development cooperation while welcoming
Russian and US leaders to the EAS in November this year.

The ARF focussed on
important issues facing the region, reviewed ARF activities and defined
practical measures to implement the Ha Noi Plan of Action by 2020.

The East Sea issue was
additionally highlighted at meetings with participants voicing their concerns
over recent occurrences, underlining the importance of ensuring peace,
stability, security and maritime safety through peaceful measures while abiding
by international laws and the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

Assistant to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Quang Vinh, said that Viet Nam had supported
all efforts aimed at building trust and cooperation for peace, stability,
security and maritime safety in the East Sea.

The country confirmed
its commitment to the ASEAN-China Action Plan for 2011-15, Vinh added.

Regarding the
harassment of Chinese ships on Vietnamese vessels conducting seismic surveys in
Viet Nam’s territorial waters in the East Sea, Vinh said that Viet Nam had
strongly opposed China’s actions.

He added that Viet Nam
had called on China to cease its activities and respect international laws and
national sovereignty, confirming its commitment to solving problems peacefully.

The 18th ASEAN Summit
affirmed the importance of the DOC to peace, stability, security, and maritime
safety in the East Sea. Participating countries said that they would strive for
the completion of a guideline on DOC implementation and build a Code of Conduct
for the East Sea, COC. ASEAN members requested China to work with it in solving
unsettled issues with a view to completing the guideline as early as possible.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News