The 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 48) and related meetings took place from August 4-6, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended all the meetings and responsibly contributed to all discussions.
At AMM 48, the countries expressed deep concern on the East Sea issue and it was discussed in depth at the meeting. The artificial island construction in the sea was referred to for the first time at the event.

At the press conference after the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said that the ministers also expressed concern about security, peace and stability in the region. They also voiced serious concern over the recent East Sea issue since it impacted security, peace and stability in the region and beyond.

The East Sea issue is not only a sovereignty dispute, but also it relates to navigation and aviation. Therefore, it impacts countries in the region and beyond. They agreed that the situation in the East Sea has been further complicated recently, causing concern.

During AMM 48 and related meetings such as the 16th ASEAN + 3 (China, Japan and South Korea) Foreign Ministers Meeting, the 5th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum, the parties shared concern on the East Sea issue which was one of the issues reaching agreement. 

The ministers also emphasised  that all parties must ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) especially in relation to the maintenance of the status quo and not changing and complicating the situation in the East Sea.

They expressed their determination to accelerate the negotiation of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in order to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

 


Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister PhamBinh Minh and Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman

at the opening ceremony of AMM 48.

 

 

 

 


Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister PhamBinh Minh, ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh

and heads of delegations pose for a photo.

 

 

 

 

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister PhamBinh Minh at the retreat session of AMM 48. Photo: Kim Dung/VNA

 

 

 


Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh

and Foreign Ministers at the ASEAN – EU Ministerial Meeting.

 

 

 


The 16th ASEAN + 3 (China, Japan and South Korea) Foreign Ministers Meeting.


 

VNP