VGP – Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh welcomed the positive and constructive voice of Japan over the issues related to peace, security and stability in the region as he was addressing the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday. 

The ASEAN and Japan Foreign Ministers and the ASEAN Secretary-General to
the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on August 1, 2019.
Photo: VGP

Minh, who co-chaired the meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, called on Japan to continue its support for ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea and engage in building the East Sea of peace and stability for cooperation and development.

As the coordinator of the ASEAN-Japan relations for 2018-2021, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Minh highlighted that the relations have become more steadfast over the last 45 years, bringing about immense benefits to the sides and contributing to peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region.

He welcomed positive advancements in the strategic partnership and comprehensive cooperation between ASEAN and Japan, including the adoption of a Joint Statement on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation last year.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers appreciated Japan’s effective and proactive assistance for and cooperation with ASEAN in building the ASEAN Community, fostering connectivity and narrowing development gap in the region.

Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono reaffirmed his country’s commitment to foster cooperation with ASEAN in a practical, effective and comprehensive manner.

Kono welcomed ASEAN to have adopted the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific by the ASEAN Leaders at their recent Summit, hoping for stronger cooperation between the sides.

At the meeting, Foreign Ministers from ASEAN and Japan discussed ways to strengthen the ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership and to promote ASEAN-Japan security, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation in various areas, such as cyber security, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.

Regarding regional and international situation, the Foreign Ministers acknowledged progress in the negotiation process of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea while expressing their grave concerns over the real complicated developments in the East Sea, especially militarization and unilateral actions have complicated the situation, eroded trust, and produced negative impacts on peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

The two sides underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, freedom of navigation and overflight at sea, including the East Sea.

They Foreign Ministers also emphasized that all disputes must be settled through peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and that the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea must be fully implemented.

They voiced support for efforts to formulate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea that is effective and efficient in line with the international law and the UNCLOS./.