(VOVworld) – The 5^th ASEAN Maritime Forum and the 3^rd Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum opened in the central city of Da Nang on Tuesday. The events were attended by representatives from 10 ASEAN members and 8 East Asia Summit partners – China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and the US.

The two forums are aimed to uphold ASEAN's central role in maritime co-operation to ensure maritime security and safety. (Photo: Vosco)

The forums aimed to uphold ASEAN’s central role in maritime co-operation and mutual trust building and to ensure maritime security and safety in the East Sea on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and working toward a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. Through such events, the ASEAN community hopes to boost internal solidarity and take advantage of partner countries' support to realize its priorities.
By hosting the events, Vietnam has expressed its role in ASEAN, its responsibility and its contribution to the organisation. Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh, head of the Vietnamese delegation, said:
“At these forums, Vietnam has consulted participating countries and put forth topics for each session, including reviewing recent achievements in maritime co-operation and implementation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea since the convention took effect 20 years ago. We hope that specific recommendations will be made at the forums to boost maritime co-operation, security, and safety.”