The opening ceremony of regional seminar on ASEAN and the East Sea in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo: Xuan Khu/Vietnam+)

(VOVworld) – Entitled ‘Achievements, challenges, and future directions’, a regional seminar on ASEAN and the East Sea opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Thursday.
The event drew representatives from China, Australia, Canada, and the members of ASEAN. ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh underlined two mechanisms within the framework of ASEAN-China: the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and a Code of Conduct through which ASEAN proves its consistency and dynamism in its relations with China to strengthen peace and stability in the East Sea. Minh said that in the future the COC should serve as a comprehensive legal standard governing the conduct of parties in the East Sea to prevent and resolve disputes there.

In his address, Cambodian Secretary of State Kao Kim Hourrn called on ASEAN and China to establish mutual trust and maintain momentum in implementing the DOC. He said the two sides should consider opportunities for defense cooperation, commit to regularly consulting on the COC until the document is approved, and work together to settle rising challenges regarding East Sea issues that arise.