An international seminar on the East Sea was held in Jakarta
on May 31 by Indonesia ’s Habibie Centre in collaboration with India ’s Centre
for Asian Strategic Studies.

The event drew about 150 delegates, including scholars and
researchers from Indonesia , India , Vietnam , the US , Malaysia , Singapore ,
Australia and representatives from embassies of ASEAN countries, the US ,
Russia and China .

Addressing the opening session, Habibie Chairwoman Prof. Dr.
Dewi Fortuna Anwar hailed Indonesia ’s initiative to organise the seminar and
affirmed the important role of ASEAN in the international community.

She stressed the need to maintain solidarity in the bloc
toward the ASEAN Community by 2015 and expressed her hope that topics discussed
at the seminar would clarify East Sea-related issues as well as the
relationship among parties in the East Sea . These would contribute to seeking
appropriate solutions and mechanisms for the East Sea in the spirit of peace,
stability, security, cooperation and prosperity in the region, she said.

Themed, “Prospects of Cooperation and Convergence of the
Issues and Dynamics in the East Sea”, the event delivered 13 reports,
emphasising that disputes in the East Sea needed to be solved through
multilateral, peaceful negotiations, ensuring benefits for all concerned
parties.

The seminar was expected to issue a joint statement and
proposals on the necessity of ensuring an environment of peace and stability in
the East Sea , for the common benefit of neighbouring countries and the region.

It called for efforts, commitments and contributions from
the concerned parties through multilateral mechanisms, in order to increase the
building of trust, cooperation to solve conflicts, ensure maritime security and
conduct scientific studies in the East Sea in line with the 1982 UN Convention
on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East
Sea (DOC), advancing to the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The international seminar on the East Sea was held in the
context where Indonesia, as ASEAN Chair 2011, was accelerating efforts to
promote initiatives on enhancement of peace, stability, security and prosperity
in the region, as well as the increasing position and role of ASEAN and Asia in
the international arena.

BD