Fifth Ocean Dialogue on ASEAN cooperation in East Sea held

The fifth Ocean Dialogue on ASEAN cooperation in the East Sea is organized in Ha Noi on June 18, 2019 - Photo: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Major speakers from Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and the U.S., and experts highlighted ASEAN’s role in managing disputes and promoting regional cooperation.

They also looked into maritime cooperation within the framework of ASEAN-led mechanisms over the past time and worked on proposals to improve the efficiency of the grouping’s engagement in the East Sea in the time ahead.

In his opening remarks, Peter Girke, Head of KAS Office in Viet Nam said the Ocean Dialogues aim to discuss a strategy of making small steps in regional cooperation, with priority given to seeking common points and building trust through the settlement of less sensitive issues such as environmental pollution and fish resources reduction.

If such approach produces progress, regional countries would find it easier to deal with long-term challenges and conflicts, he added.

Australian Deputy Ambassador to Viet Nam Rebecca Bryant affirmed Australia’s commitment to backing ASEAN’s central role in Indo-Pacific, and applauded its significant contributions to maintaining security and stability over the past 50 years.

Prior to the dialogue, Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam Le Hai Binh, said the event aims to seek new ideas on the ASEAN cooperation in the East Sea to propose to policy-making agencies, while enhancing public awareness of external affairs in the coming time, in the context that Viet Nam has been elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021 and will take over the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020.

The four previous Ocean Dialogues touched upon such issues as maritime administration, fishery cooperation, international maritime law and plastic waste at sea.

The event was jointly held by the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, German foundation Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam and the Foundation for East Sea Studies.

It brought together nearly 100 delegates from some 30 foreign agencies and international organizations, Vietnamese ministries and agencies, along with experts and scholars.

By Hoang Ha