Asean ministers express concerns over South China Sea dispute
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BAGAN - Foreign ministers from across the Asean region expressed their concerns over recent developments in the South China Sea during a ministerial meeting in Bagan.
Delegates on Friday reaffirmed Asean’s six-point principles on the South China Sea, highlighting the importance of peace and stability, maritime security, freedom of navigation and flight above the sea.
"They called on all parties to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to undertake the full and effective presentation of the code of conduct in order to build an environment of mutual trust and confidence," said a delegate from Myanmar's foreign ministry requesting anonymity.
Foreign ministers also urged for self-restraint and called on all parties concerned to resolve the dispute by peaceful means in accordance with international laws, including the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Some experts have said that the South China Sea dispute would be the biggest challenge for Myanmar during its tenure as Asean chair because the country has a long-standing relation with neighbouring China.
Myanmar's presidential spokesperson, Ye Htut told a press briefing yesterday that the Myanmar government will try to find a non-biased solution that can be accepted by all the parties concerned in the dispute.
Asean ministers also discussed the priorities for the Asean bloc this year, including Asean’s efforts to speed up Asean community building through the effectual realisation of a master plan for Asean integration.
"On the regional and international issues, the ministers stressed the importance of upholding Asean’s centrality in the evolving regional issues of common interest of Asean. They also discussed ways to further contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of the region," said Myanmar’s foreign secretary Wunna Maung Lwin.
The retreat, chaired by Wunna Maung Lwin, is the first in a series of ASEAN ministers’ meetings under Myanmar’s tenure as Asean chair for 2014.
