On May 18, 2017, ASEAN and China hold the meeting at Guiyang, China; chaired by Singapore’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong and the Chinese counterpart Liú Zhènmín. Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung, Head of Vietnam ASEAN SOM, led the Vietnamese delegation attending the event.
At the meeting, two sides discussed about South China Sea situation, DOC operation and path to complete COC. ASEAN and China recalled commitment from Senior Leaders on DOC’s full and effective execution. They also highly valuated the outcome of trust building and diplomat measures, including Hot line between ASEAN and Chinese Foreign Affair Ministry on emergency situation at Sea and application of The Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) in South China Sea, contributing to maintain navigation and air’s peace, stabilization, security and safety.
On building COC, both sides realized the result of DOC/COC operation Group and agreed to submit the draft to ASEAN-China Minister Conference (PMC+) on August, 2017 for review and approval.
The meeting took place in open and straight atmosphere. All the countries contributed actively and constructively, affirmed to enhance dialogue and consultant to speed up DOC/COC processing to maintain dialogue, cooperation for peace, stabilization in region and South China Sea. Among those, concerns of Vietnam received positive comment and realization.
Attending the conference, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affair pressed the importance of executing fully, effectively DOC; as well as consult some content to complete the draft of COC. Besides, the Deputy Minister also highlighted the need of being refrain, avoiding violence or threat to use violence; solving conflicts on basis of international law, including UNCLOS 1982.
