15th International Conference on East Sea takes place on October 25-26, 2023. (Photo: dangcongsan.vn)

In her online keynote speech Paola Pampaloni, Acting Managing Director of Asia and Pacific of the European External Action Service (EEAS), said peace, stability, and cooperation in the East Sea play a crucial role for the EU.

The EU strongly opposes any actions that increase tensions or undermine the rule-based order, she said, adding that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is a "guiding light" and a "lodestar" to peacefully settle disputes in the region.

The EU supports negotiations led by ASEAN toward an effective, practical and legally-binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), which must respect the interests of third parties and conform with international law, she said.

Ms. Pampaloni reaffirmed the EU's support for multilateralism and the central role of ASEAN.