(VOVworld) – On Tuesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung raised deep concerns over recent developments in the East Sea during a discussion in Sunnylands, California that sought to protect peace, prosperity, and security in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung led the Vietnamese high-level delegation to the ASEAN-US Special Leaders' Summit. (Photo: VNA)

Dung referred to activities that are altering the status quo, escalating militarization, and threatening peace, stability, security, and the safety of aviation and navigation. The discussion occurred at the ASEAN-US Special Leaders’ Summit, the first summit since the establishment of the ASEAN Community.

Dung said countries need to prioritize building strategic trust, increasing dialogues and cooperation, and respecting international law – especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982. He called for the promotion of multilateral mechanisms and support for ASEAN’s key role in maintaining a peaceful environment and security in the region. PM Dung stressed the strategic significance of ASEAN-US relations, hailing positive and constructive support from the US and other partners for ASEAN’s stance in handling regional security issues. He hailed recent achievements in ASEAN-US relations and expressed his hope that both sides will work closely to carry out their action plan for 2016-2020 to bring their relations to the next level.

Tensions in the East Sea, the Korean Peninsula, the terror attack in Jakarta, cyber security, trans-national crimes, and climate change were all mentioned during the discussion. An adopted joint statement said summit participants will uphold the principles and purposes of international law, the UN Charter, and the ASEAN Charter as defining principles for ASEAN-US ties. They shared a commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes, with full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to threats or the use of force in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law and the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

US President Barack Obama said the US attaches importance to its cooperation with ASEAN and each of its members, and supports ASEAN’s central role in the evolving architecture of the region. He said the US wants to coordinate with ASEAN in dealing with global and regional challenges, including combating terrorism, extreme violence, human trafficking, and climate change.