VietNamNet Bridge – Partners of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should continue to assist the association to strengthen regional links, narrowing the development gap, and support its central role in regional forums.

Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh made the remarks at the 13th ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) Foreign Ministers Meeting in Phnom Penh on July 10.

Vinh praised the practical development of the ASEAN Plus Three relations and the active participation and important contribution of China, Japan, and the RoK in the cooperation process.

In the future, members of ASEAN Plus Three should continue to deepen cooperation in finance and currency, while effectively implementing the agreement on the Chiang Mai Initiative, encouraging the private sector to get involved in the Asian Bond Markets Initiative, he said.

Vinh added that the bloc and its partners should strengthen links in trade, investment, infrastructure development, transport and human resource development.

On the same day, Vinh also participated in the 5th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers Meeting and the 2nd Mekong-RoK Foreign Ministers Meeting.

Addressing the Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers Meeting, the Deputy FM suggested that in 2013-2015, the Mekong nations and Japan should promote cooperation in important issues for sub-regional development, including hard and soft infrastructure development, particularly the East-West corridor and the Southern corridor.

He called for close coordination of Mekong sub-regional countries in managing and developing the Mekong River in a sustainable manner, focusing on assessing the impacts of hydropower dams on the main flow.

Speaking at the Mekong-RoK Foreign Ministers Meeting, Vinh said the Mekong-RoK framework should propose cooperative ideas to make full use of each member nation’s expertise, such as human resource training for the Mekong Sub-region Information Superhighway, experience sharing and mutual support in building a green growth model.

He emphasised the absolute necessity for cooperation among nations in the management and exploitation of the waters of the Mekong in the context of increasing pressures from population growth, economic development and climate change.

Regarding the East Sea issues, Deputy FM Vinh reaffirmed that the Vietnamese Government opposes China's decision to establish the so-called “Sansha City” as well as its invitation for bids in nine petroleum lots within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

China’s above-mentioned acts seriously violate the coastal countries’ sovereign rights and jurisdictional rights over the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as stated in the UNCLOS, and go contrary to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), threatening regional peace, stability, and maritime security and safety, he said.

Reiterated the principles of coastal countries’ sovereign and jurisdictional rights over the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as stated in the 1982 UNCLOS, Vinh expressed hope that disputes will be settled through peaceful means and without using force in respect of International laws, the UNCLOS and the DOC.

VietNamNet/VOV online