Despite difficulties and challenges, if international law, practices and regional commitments are fully respected and responsibilities shared, then there is a bright future for Asia, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at the 20th International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo on May 22-23.

The Deputy PM said Asia continues to experience dynamic development, yet challenges and hidden dangers remain. Therefore, the future development of Asia requires further changes and transformation.

Apart from national endeavors, enhancing the cohesion between countries is extremely important, Dam said, underlining policy coordination, transport infrastructure connectivity, technological innovation, linkages in human resources development and cooperation in environmental protection.

At the same time, Deputy PM Dam stressed that a peaceful and cooperative environment is a must for sustainable development.

To achieve it, “all countries, small or big, should build their relations based on the principle of equality, mutual interest and respect for each other’s independence and sovereignty as well as international law and practices,” he said.

He also underscored the necessity of building strategic trust with sincerity, honesty, practical actions and responsibilities.

Deputy PM Dam mentioned the situation in the East Sea, where recently, peace, stability and maritime navigation in the East Sea has been seriously threatened.

He noted that since early May, China has blatantly deployed a deep water oil rig escorted by hundreds of ships, including naval forces and military aircraft, deep within the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Vietnam.

“This constitutes a serious infringement of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration between ASEAN and China ,” he stated.

Dam reiterated that Vietnam has always attached great importance to its ties with China and has exercised the utmost restraint and sincerely shown every gesture of goodwill to solve the issue by peaceful measures. At the same time, Vietnam is also resolved to use necessary measures to protect our national sovereignty and legitimate interests in line with international law.

The deputy PM also re-affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to continuing to fully implement international commitments and to use necessary measures to ensure the safety and legitimate rights of foreign enterprises and individuals in the country.

The 20th International Conference on the Future of Asia this year focused discussions on factors affecting the future of the region such as the Chinese economy, the role and interference of big countries in the region and the relations of Japan-US, China-US, China-Japan, as well as Japan’s new security policy.

The East Sea tension caused by China’s violation of international law is also an issue of great interest, as were the regional economic integration process, especially the building of an ASEAN Community and negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

On the sidelines of the event, Deputy PM Dam had separate meetings with the Prime Ministers of Japan and Singapore, during which they discussed ways to promote bilateral ties as well as other issues of mutual concern.

Deputy PM Dam thanked the Governments of Japan and Singapore for raising their voice supporting Vietnam’s stance in the face of China ’s violation of international law when placing its Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam .

He calls on the two countries as well as the international community to continue making strong protest against acts that violate international law, threaten peace and stability in the region, especially maritime security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea.

Both the Japanese and Singaporean Prime Ministers expressed their concern over the recent developments in the East Sea , affirming their viewpoints of respecting international law and practicing restraint, not allowing disputes to harm peace and stability in the region, especially maritime security and safety in the East Sea .

Regarding the recent disturbance caused by some individuals taking advantage of people’s patriotism in several Vietnamese localities, Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong spoke highly of drastic responding measures of the Vietnamese Government.

The Japanese and Singaporean PMs affirmed that with Vietnam’s commitment to ensuring a safe investment environment for foreign investors, they will continue encouraging their businesses to expand their operations in Vietnam.

VNA/VNN