(VOVworld) – The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM) opened in Myanmar on Friday. Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said the meeting will discuss the bloc’s plans for this year and regional and global issues of concern. Minh said that efforts will be made to boost the building of an ASEAN Community and strengthen internal unity and cooperation. He added that Vietnam will host a number of activities to address pending issues toward building an ASEAN Community.

Minh said that the ASEAN Community’s post-2015 vision should strengthen ASEAN linkages and help build an East Asian region of peace, stability and development. He stressed the common responsibility to ensure peace, stability, maritime safety and security in the East Sea. He also stressed the importance of abiding by international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. Minh said greater efforts should be made to quickly reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.