Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung proposed strengthening regional,inter-regional and global mechanisms on dialogue and cooperation at asession of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit that closed inMilan, Italy on October 17.

In his speech at the session onenhancing dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Asia and futuredirection of ASEM, he also called for preventive diplomatic actions thatcontribute to a sustainable and transparent security architecture,which can respond to changes and ensure interests of all countries.

PM Dung said while Asia-the Pacific region is a driving force ofglobal economic growth and linkages, the situation here is facing manyrisks of instability. He expressed Vietnam’s special concern about therecent serious developments and violations of international law in theEast Sea. At the same time, the PM affirmed that Vietnam is consistentin its stance on joining ASEAN members and the international community,including ASEM members, in promoting dialogue and exerting all effortsin line with international law to maintain peace, security, safety andfreedom of navigation and aviation as well as cooperation fordevelopment in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific.

Thedecisive point is to exercise restraint, not to use or threat to useforce, prevent acts that can cause tension and settle disputes throughpeaceful measures on the basis of international law including the UNConvention on the Law of the Sea, while fully and seriously observingthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties on the East Sea and workingtogether to build a Code of Conduct on the East Sea, the PM said.

He said as a country torn by the war throughout decades, Vietnam isfully aware of its responsibility for playing a constructive role,together with ASEM members, in maintaining peace, security, stability inthe Southeast Asia, the Asia and Europe continents and the world.

At the session, participating leaders focused their discussion onissues related to peace, security, terrorism, non-proliferation ofnuclear and mass destruction weapons, human trafficking, maritimesecurity and piracy.

They pledged support for ASEAN’s effortsto build a common community by 2015, its post-2015 agenda and ASEAN’scentral role in the evolving regional architecture.

They also spoke highly of ASEAN’s stronger ties with the European Union and other European partners.
The session agreed on the need to increase collaboration to maintainpeace, security and stability. The leaders vowed to make efforts toensure security, safety, maritime and aviation safety and freedom aswell as free trade in the principle of refraining from the use of forceor threat to use force, and abiding by international law, including the1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Laterthe same day, the 10th ASEM summit wrapped up with a chair’sstatement detailing a number of key issues and passed 27 initiatives,with three from Vietnam, including a workshop on sustainable waterresource management for food security, a youth week appealing forstronger action to deal with poverty challenge, and a conference ongreen skills towards comprehensive and sustainable growth.

Concluding the event, participants agreed to establish 16 specialisedworking groups responsible for realising orientations for the 2014-2016period.-VNA