Phl, Vietnam discuss territorial row vs China

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and Vietnam have discussed the rising tension and the urgent need to address the challenges in the South China Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

During his visit to Vietnam on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, it said.

The department declared that the two foreign ministers urged that the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea be implemented in its entirety, including refraining from the use of coercive force.

They also agreed that the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea be concluded without undue delay.

The ministers discussed observing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in addressing the dispute in the South China Sea.

“The two ministers reaffirmed the ASEAN Joint Statement on the Developments in the South China Sea issued on the 10th of May 2014 and the ASEAN Six Point Principles on the South China Sea,” the DFA said.

The discussions between them were comprehensive, constructive and productive, and covered bilateral cooperative projects, international and regional concerns, and people-to-people ties, it added.

The two sides agreed to further promote cooperation in fisheries, ocean and maritime, defense and security, trade and investment.

They would also advance partnership in the establishment of a joint commission to formulate a road map in working on a strategic partnership.                                                                                  

The ministers reaffirmed the invaluable friendship between their countries and the importance of their partnership in ASEAN.

They renewed their commitment to promote the rule of law and peaceful resolution of disputes. – With Jaime Laude