(Photo: Pham Kien/VNA)

The Chairman’s Statement of the 28th ARF noted that the forum reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, prosperity, safety, and freedom of navigation in, and overflight above, the South China Sea and pursuing the peaceful resolution of disputes, without coercion, in accordance with the universally-recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The meeting underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

ARF-28 took place virtually last week as part of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM 54) and Related Meetings.