ASEAN Foreign Ministers prepare for summit

The meetings were to prepare for the 30th ASEAN Summit, which takes place in the city today, April 29th. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh headed the Vietnamese delegation.

The meetings included the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial meeting, the 15th ASEAN political-security community meeting and the 19th ASEAN coordinating council meeting. At the meetings, ASEAN foreign ministers issued a statement expressing grave concern over the escalation of tension in the Korean Peninsula, urging the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint in order to de-escalate the tension. Another outstanding issue discussed at the meetings was the East Sea.

ASEAN foreign ministers reiterated the resolve to accelerate the building of a framework for a Code of Conduct in the East Sea so as to attain a substantive and effective code that is in line with international law. The ministers stressed that amidst the complicated international and regional context, especially tensions in the Korean Peninsula and reclamation and militarization activities in the East Sea, ASEAN need to maintain a strong common voice and bring into play its role, so being able to practically contribute to peace and stability.