(VOVworld) – The Senior Officials’ Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (SOM ARF) opened in Myanmar on Monday to discuss regional and global issues, review ARF’s cooperation activities last year, and make preparations for the ARF Ministerial Meeting in August.

The Senior Officials’ Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (SOM ARF) took place in Yangon, Myanmar on Monday

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh. Participants expressed deep concern about the escalating tension in the East Sea. They underscored the need for restraint, strongly condemning acts that infringe international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS) or the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). They also highlighted the necessity of strictly observing international law, the 1982 UNCLOS and DOC, and working towards the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh underscored the importance of peace, stability, maritime security, safety, and freedom in the East Sea and said Vietnam demands that China immediately withdraw the oil-rig and its escort vessels from Vietnam’s waters. He said Vietnam advocates strict compliance with international law and UNCLOS 1982, supports full and effective observance of DOC regulations, and urges prompt completion of a COC to ensure peace, stability, security. and safety of navigation in the East Sea.
Regarding ARF’s future, Vinh asked the forum to promote the building of mutual trust amid growing strategic competition among big nations and multiple traditional and non-traditional security challenges in the region. ARF needs to continue to follow principles of trust, equality, mutual respect, and international law.