The Vietnamese Navy Commander made the statement at the opening ceremony of the 13th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting (ANCM-13) in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on November 26 under the chair of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh.
Addressing the meeting, Admiral Tea Vinh, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Chief of the Royal Cambodian Navy, and Secretary General of the Cambodian National Committee for Maritime Security, warmly welcomed ASEAN Navy Chiefs to the meeting.
At ANCM-13, ASEAN Navy Chiefs had bilateral and multilateral discussions on current maritime issues, and cooperation and response capabilities. They also discussed traditional and non-traditional challenges at sea, human trafficking, illegal fishing, and violations of maritime sovereignty.
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ASEAN Navy Chiefs in a group photo |
In his speech, Vice Admiral Pham Hoai Nam spoke highly of the meeting’s theme “Enhancing cooperation for sustainable maritime security.” He stressed that this topic was consistent with the current cooperation trend, especially when challenges and threats on maritime security remain apparent in the region.
The Vietnamese Navy Chief also affirmed that maritime security is one of the important factors determining ASEAN’s stability. No single country could successfully ensure maritime security by itself. He held that ASEAN plays a central role in maintaining peace, security and stability in Southeast Asia. Therefore, ASEAN should be active in shaping the future of the region to avoid being negatively affected by superpowers’ strategic competitions.
Nam emphasized that in the context that international law is violated and international standards are threatened or broken, ASEAN should heighten the respect for international law, especially UNCLOS 1982, and regional commitments as well as mutual respect in international relations and in addressing disputes and disagreements.
ASEAN should also respect independence, sovereignty, legitimate interests of all nations and find best ways to narrow differences. Further, ASEAN Navies should neither use force, threaten to use force nor take action to complicate the situation. They should deal with disagreements and disputes gradually.
On the basis of the regional solidarity and friendship, ASEAN Navies should continue promoting the efficiency of their bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms with the aim of building mutual trust and managing regional security, Nam added.
The Vietnamese Navy Commander said, as Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year in 2020 will target the building of a cohesive and responsive ASEAN, the Navy of Vietnam will organize the ANCM-14, an international fleet review, the second ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercise (AMNEX-2), an international maritime workshop and other sideline activities.
“The Navy of Vietnam will warmly welcome delegations and naval ships of ASEAN countries to Vietnam,” the Vietnamese Vice Admiral said.
On the sidelines of the ANCM-13, Vice Admiral Pham Hoai Nam had bilateral meetings with Navy Chiefs of Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar.
Source: baohaiquanvietnam
Translated by Mai Huong