Speech by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the 24th ASEAN Summit

Nghe An Electronic Newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's speech at the 24th ASEAN Summit in Myanmar.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung speaks at the 24th ASEAN Summit. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Dear President U Thein Sein, Chairman of the ASEAN Summit,

Dear King,

Dear colleagues!

First of all, Vietnam would like to thank you for your warm welcome and congratulate Myanmar on its first ASEAN Chairmanship. Vietnam will cooperate with and support Myanmar in successfully fulfilling its role as ASEAN Chair in 2014. In line with the theme of the Conference, we would like to share the following opinions:

1. On regional peace and security

Vietnam would like to announce and emphasize the East Sea issue as follows:

Peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea - the common concerns of ASEAN, the region and the world - are being seriously threatened.

Since May 1, 2014, China has brazenly brought a deep-water drilling rig along with more than 80 armed ships, military vessels and escort aircraft into Vietnam's waters and has placed the rig at a location more than 80 nautical miles deep within Vietnam's Continental Shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone according to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Chinese escort ships protecting the rig have been very aggressive, firing high-intensity water cannons and ramming Vietnamese official and civilian ships, damaging many ships and injuring many people. This is the first time China has brazenly placed a drilling rig deep within the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of an ASEAN country, which is an especially serious violation of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and also a particularly serious violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), to which China is a signatory. This extremely dangerous action has been and is directly threatening peace, stability, security, and maritime safety in the East Sea.

Vietnam has exercised utmost restraint, sincerely expressed all goodwill, used all dialogue channels, and communicated with different levels of China to protest and demand that China immediately withdraw its drilling rig and armed and military vessels from Vietnam's waters. However, up to now, China has not only failed to respond to Vietnam's legitimate requests, but has also slandered and blamed Vietnam and continued to use force, increasing its intimidation and encroachment actions, which are increasingly dangerous and serious.

Vietnam attaches special importance to and always does its utmost to maintain and strengthen the good friendship with China. Vietnam also sincerely wishes to resolve disputes with China by peaceful means on the basis of international law, equality and mutual respect for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace and stability in the region and the world. However, territory is sacred, Vietnam strongly opposes any acts of infringement and resolutely protects its national sovereignty and legitimate interests in accordance with international law.

We sincerely thank and urgently call on ASEAN countries, countries around the world, individuals and international organizations to continue to speak out against the above serious violations and support Vietnam's legitimate and just request.

In this particularly serious situation, Vietnam proposes that ASEAN and we strengthen solidarity, unity and strongly reaffirm the principles stated in the Six-Point Statement on the East Sea, and at the same time request China to comply with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, especially respect the continental shelf and 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of coastal states and fully and seriously implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). And together with ASEAN, negotiate substantively on the Code of Conduct COC.

Vietnam proposes that ASEAN include the above contents on the East Sea issue in the Joint Statement of the Summit and the Statement of the Chairman of this ASEAN Summit. Vietnam highly appreciates the fact that on May 10, 2014, ASEAN Foreign Ministers unanimously adopted a separate Statement on the current serious situation in the East Sea, clearly demonstrating ASEAN's solidarity, central role, proactive spirit and high responsibility for peace, stability and security in the region.

2. On the roadmap to build the ASEAN Community

Vietnam highly appreciates the Report of the ASEAN Secretary General on the activities to build the ASEAN Community. We believe that ASEAN needs to do more and focus on the following key points:

First of all, each country and the region must make efforts to implement the Roadmap for the Community on time. Along with improving the quality of nearly 80% of the action lines that have been and are being implemented, ASEAN needs to prioritize the implementation of the remaining 20%. Vietnam supports the adoption of the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on the ASEAN Community as a guiding document for activities in 2014.

We need to strengthen and promote ASEAN's leading role.to ensure peace, security, stability and development in the region, as well as effectively respond to emerging challenges.

Along with efforts to build the Community, ASEAN needs to further promote its leading role in the region, especially in the context of many initiatives on regional security frameworks being put forward by major countries. ASEAN needs to proactively and actively have a common voice on issues that directly affect peace, security and development in the region; especially, it needs to uphold the principles of resolving disagreements by peaceful means, restraint, not using or threatening to use force, complying with the provisions of international law, etc.

Accordingly, ASEAN needs to promote dialogue to build trust, develop and share common standards of conduct, and promote existing cooperation tools and mechanisms such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), the Bali Declaration on the Principles of Mutually Beneficial Relations, the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

To this end, we agreed with the proposal to develop a framework of common rules of conduct and cooperation in East Asia, based on the principles of the TAC and existing agreements, as well as relevant initiatives recently launched. At the same time, we need to continue to align this goal with efforts to build the ASEAN Community and the ASEAN Post-2015 Vision.

To do that, ASEAN needs to continue to maintain solidarity and unity, promote responsibility for the common interests of the region on the basis of agreed principles and methods, contribute to better ensuring a peaceful, secure and stable environment, and create favorable conditions for ASEAN to continue to develop strongly in the next period.

We, ASEAN, also need to step up efforts to effectively respond to emerging non-traditional security challenges, including environmental challenges, water resources, natural disasters, climate change, epidemics, etc. In the face of recent consecutive natural disasters and catastrophes, I suggest that ASEAN's competent agencies review and make recommendations on enhancing ASEAN's ability to cooperate and respond promptly and effectively in this field.

On this occasion, I would like to once again express my deepest sympathies to the people of the Philippines for the devastating consequences of Typhoon Haiyan and to the families of the victims of the MH370 disaster. These disasters require us to pay more attention to strengthening ASEAN’s response capacity and cooperation. We propose to soon organize a review of the region’s experience in coordinating this important work.

3. On the future of the ASEAN Community.Vietnam highly appreciates the ASEAN Summit agreement on building the ASEAN Vision after 2015.

The ASEAN Community Vision after 2015 must be a continuation and promotion of the achievements in the Roadmap for the ASEAN Community 2009-2015. After becoming a Community, ASEAN needs to aim for higher integration goals in all three pillars. At the same time, it must strongly promote its leading role in the regional structure, proactively promote and expand connectivity in the East Asia region. The vision after 2015 must help bring the ASEAN Community to the welfare of the people, arouse community awareness and encourage voluntary and active participation of the people in this process. ASEAN needs to focus on consolidating and further enhancing cooperation mechanisms to respond promptly and effectively to risks, including natural disasters, epidemics and accidents. We propose that the ASEAN Coordinating Council develop a practical commemorative plan for the establishment of the ASEAN Community.

4. On reviewing and orienting ASEAN's foreign relations

Vietnam proposes that ASEAN increase its role and cooperation with partners at regional forums; promote its leading role in the East Asia forum; and build a framework of rules of conduct and cooperation similar to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) that extends to the entire East Asia.

As the coordinator of ASEAN-EU relations, Vietnam proposes that the upcoming 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting should discuss in detail the strengthening of the ASEAN-EU partnership, including the EU’s proposal to hold high-level meetings between the Leaders of the two sides. We also support the proposal to review and propose guidelines for strengthening ASEAN’s external relations.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Vietnam respectfully thanks and highly appreciates the important contribution of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Judojono to the process of building the ASEAN Community. I wish the President all the best.

Thanks./.

According to Chinhphu.vn