Khanh Hoa (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Pham Binh Minh on January 17 presided over a retreat of theforeign ministers of the ASEAN countries (AMM Retreat), with the participationof the foreign ministers of other ASEAN members and the bloc’s SecretaryGeneral Lim Jock Hoi.

This is the first meeting of the ASEAN top diplomats thisyear to discuss the priority orientations of the regional grouping this year,especially the building of the community, the bloc’s foreign relations, andinternational and regional issues.

The ministers expressed their support and held that thethemes and priority orientations tabled by Vietnam for ASEAN 2020 are suitableto the goal of the building of the ASEAN Community. ASEAN 2020 cooperation willfocus on the fortification of the grouping’s solidarity and unity, and others.The ministers also agreed to push up the cooperation for the protection of theenvironment, peace, security and gender equity.

Representatives of the countries agreed with Vietnam’sproposal on the action plan of the ASEAN this year, according to which the blocwill realise a number of initiatives.

Regarding foreign relations, they stressed the importance offurther broadening and deepening the ASEAN external ties. The ASEAN – New Zealandcommemorative summit will be held on April 9 right after the 36th ASEANsummit to be held in Da Nang. The foreign ministers agreed to propose ASEAN topleaders to accept the invitation from the US President to a special summit tomark the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN – US strategic partnership to be heldin the US in March, and accepted Vietnam’s proposal on sending the ASEAN SecretaryGeneral to inform the UN Security Council of the ASEAN – UN cooperation.

The ministers devoted much time exchanging ideas on thesituation in the East Sea. They noted the progress in the negotiations on theCode of Conduct (COC) and expressed concern on land reclamation at sea,especially on the recent developments, including the serious incidents thatviolate sovereignty in the sea of a number of ASEAN members and intensifytension, erode trust and do not facilitate the COC negotiations.

The top diplomats reaffirmed the need to boost trust,refrain from and avoid actions that further complicate the situation, towardssettling disputes by peaceful means, and to take international law, the UN Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the basis for claims on sovereignty andsovereign right on the waters. They also stressed the need for the fullimplementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC) so as to create an environment of mutual trust.

The ministers affirmed ASEAN will continue supportingefforts aimed at bringing back peace, stability, respect to the law andacceleration of reconciliation and concord among the communities, as well as ensuringsustainable development in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. They agreed to continuesupporting and facilitating the repatriation and sustainable development there.

Minh thanked the support from the countries, describing it asa manifestation of the ASEAN solidarity and unity. He stressed that Vietnam willdo all what it can to accomplish the tasks of the ASEAN 2020 Chair and cooperatewith the countries for a region of peace, stability and prosperity, for acohesive and responsive ASEAN.

In the afternoon the same day, Minh presided over aninternational press conference making known the outcomes of the AMM Retreat./.