BEIJING – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đặng Đình Quý stressed the need for countries to come together to promote honest, constructive dialogue and have specific and pragmatic measures to build confidence.
He was speaking at the fifth foreign ministerial meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Beijing on Thursday.
The deputy minister said the CICA needs to focus on resolving all disputes via peaceful measures in line with the UN Charter and international law.
He also highlighted the increasing adverse impact of climate change on water resource security and called on countries to boost cooperation in sustainably managing cross-border water sources.
He also appreciated China’s and Laos’ efforts in increasing the water volume in the lower-reaches of the Mekong River, easing water shortages, saline intrusion and drought in the region.
This year’s CICA focused its discussion on traditional and non-traditional security challenges in Asia.
Participating nations agreed that international terrorism and violent extremism are common threats and the international community needs to cooperate to prevent and eliminate these threats.
In order to solve hot spots, disputes and regional conflicts, countries emphasised the conformity of the principles of the UN Charter, international law and CICA.
The conference mentioned the correlating relationship between security and development and affirmed development is a common goal and security is a shared responsibility of all countries.
Delegates said that the CICA needs to play a more active role in building and strengthening confidence via dialogue and specific actions to ensure peace and security, and create favourable conditions for the development of the region and world.
The conference passed the ministerial statement confirming commitment to maintaining and protecting the principles of the UN Charter and international law, including opposing the use of force or threat to use force, respecting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and resolving disputes via peaceful measures as stipulated in the UN Charter.
The statement also welcomes the formation of the ASEAN Community, the bloc’s role and effort in promoting cooperation, boosting confidence, peace, security and stability in the region; and welcomed the ratification of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris climate change Accord. — VNS