PM Abe says Japan supports ASEAN in settling East Sea disputes (Photo: VNA)
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(VOVworld)- The 13th Asia Security Summit known as the Shangri-La Dialogue opened in Singapore on Friday with the participation of more than 400 delegates from 30 countries and international organizations. Minister of Defense General Phung Quang Thanh is Head of the Vietnamese delegation at the event. In his opening speech, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe voiced Japan’s support for ASEAN member countries as they work to ensure the security of the seas and the skies, and thoroughly maintain freedom of navigation and freedom of flights. He said Japan intended to play an even greater and more proactive role to ensure peace in Asia and the world. Abe highlighted the importance of international law and 3 principles regarding sea law, under which countries claim sovereignty in line with international law, countries don’t use force to obtain sovereignty and countries must settle disputes through peaceful means. Mr. Abe said that Japan strongly supported efforts made by the Philippines and Vietnam in settling their territorial disputes in the East Sea. He called on ASEAN and China to soon reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
The five plenary sessions of the 2014 Shangri-La dialogue will focus on US contributions to regional stability, measures to strengthen defense cooperation, resolutions to strategic tensions, prospects of peace and security in Asia Pacific and the handling of tensions and conflict in the region. In addition, there will be five special sessions on challenges of maintaining and settling sea areas, influence of new military power in Asia Pacific, climate change, humanitarian aid and disaster rescue and security in Asia Pacific, ASEAN and security order in emerging areas, North Korea’s future in relation with regional security.