Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the 21st ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers Meeting with Republic of Korea, China, and Japan (Photo: VGP/Hai Minh)

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made the statement at Wednesday’s online ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, at the 21st ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers Meeting with Republic of Korea, China and Japan, at the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers Meeting, and the ASEAN- Republic of Korea Foreign Ministers Meeting

At the meetings, Mr. Minh called on partner countries - China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea - to continue to support and participate in ASEAN’s COVID-19 initiatives, the establishment of an ASEAN center for public health emergencies and epidemics, epidemic control and prevention, minimizing COVID-19’s economic impact, and sustainable regional recovery.

The Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and partner countries shared their views on maintaining regional peace, stability, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and the importance of peacefully settling disputes through respect for international law.

Mr. Minh urged all parties to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and resume negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), which have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.