Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh raised the East Sea issue at the NAM Conference.

On the morning of September 17 (local time), the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement opened on Margarita Island (Venezuela).

Representatives of participating countries take a group photo at the conference. (Source: EPA/VNA)

The conference was attended by 22 presidents and prime ministers, 11 vice presidents and deputy prime ministers, heads of delegations from member countries, observer countries and organizations, and guests.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh led a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend the Conference.

A VNA correspondent in Margarita said that with the theme “Peace, Sovereignty and Solidarity for Development,” this conference focused on discussing measures to strengthen solidarity and promote the role of the Non-Aligned Movement in promoting the interests of member countries on important issues such as peace, security, disarmament, reform of the international system, cooperation for development, implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and response to climate change.

In his opening speech, Venezuelan President Nicolas M​aduro highlighted the role of the Non-Aligned Movement over the past 55 years in the struggle for national independence, self-determination, sovereignty, peace and development.

President Maduro called for the establishment of a Secretariat as a coordinating body for the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77, the establishment of a Bank for the Southern Countries, ensuring food sovereignty, and linking social movements of developing countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh delivered a speech at the first discussion session of the Conference.

With the message “Strengthening solidarity on the basis of common goals and principles for peace, sovereignty and sustainable development,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Pham Binh Minh said that over 55 years of development, the Non-Aligned Movement has made many contributions to the struggle for peace, national independence, anti-war and mutual development.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the Movement is only strongest when all member countries are united, united, speak with one voice and act together on the basis of common principles and goals.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the international and regional situation has many complicated developments, including many major challenges in terms of peace, security, international terrorism, climate change, environmental degradation, etc. in the world that no country can handle on its own.

Besides, there still exists disrespect for international law, interference, pressure and imposition of values, viewpoints and selfish interests of big countries, injustice in trade and financial relations, the risk of falling behind, unilateralism...

The Deputy Prime Minister suggested that the Movement focus on consolidating solidarity, upholding its founding principles, including peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with international law, implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change with the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” promoting South-South, tripartite, inter-regional and sub-regional cooperation, ensuring that global governance mechanisms must be more democratic and equitable, with the substantial participation of countries in the Non-Aligned Movement.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted ASEAN's efforts to build the community, especially in promoting peace, security, stability, development and handling complex challenges in the region, including the East Sea issue.

The Deputy Prime Minister called on all parties to exercise restraint, resolve disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, respect diplomatic and legal processes, implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon complete the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).

Host country Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (right) at the welcoming ceremony for Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (left) at the opening ceremony of the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement. (Source: EPA/VNA)

Also at the conference, ASEAN countries agreed to request the Conference to acknowledge new developments in the Southeast Asian region, including the establishment of the ASEAN Community, and expressed concern about recent developments in the East Sea.

ASEAN countries proposed that the Conference continue to support the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, respect for diplomatic and legal processes, ensure the implementation of the DOC, and soon move towards the COC./.

According to Vietnamplus