ASEAN navies enhance bilateral, multilateral activities (photo: qdnd.vn)

In his presentation, Rear Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, Commander of the Vietnam People's Navy, urged ASEAN navies to further enhance mutual understanding and trust through responsible contribution to bilateral and multilateral activities for the common interests of ASEAN countries and for a peaceful and stable environment in the region and the world.

He said countries need to coordinate in handling disputes and disagreements at sea by peaceful means on the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty and legitimate interests of countries and complying with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), strictly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and work towards building an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

On this occasion, the Vietnam Navy Commander had bilateral meetings with the Navy Commanders of the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia.