KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (NNN-Bernama) — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States committed to advancing their cooperation in the maritime domain through ASEAN-led mechanisms.
A joint vision statement released after the ASEAN-US Special Summit held in Washington D.C. on May 12-13, said they planned to forge new ties as well as to promote cooperation and coordination among their relevant agencies, including maritime law enforcement agencies.
This includes collaboration to improve maritime domain awareness, search and rescue, maritime security, and to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through sharing of information, best practices and expertise, as well as technical assistance, which will complement, and not duplicate the existing mechanisms.
“We are dedicated to maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region, and to ensuring maritime security and safety, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas as described in the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and unimpeded lawful maritime commerce as well as non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of activities,” the statement read.
It noted that ASEAN and US recognised the benefits of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity.
They emphasised the importance of practical measures that could reduce tensions and the risk of accidents, misunderstandings, and miscalculation.
“We stressed the importance of undertaking confidence building and preventive measures to enhance, among others, trust and confidence amongst parties,” it said.
ASEAN and US also underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, while emphasising the need to maintain and promote an environment conducive to the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) negotiations.
“We welcome further progress towards the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC consistent with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, ASEAN and US committed to continuing to cooperate to promote trade and investment and facilitating resilient global supply chains and seamless regional connectivity including for essential goods such as medical supplies, medicines, vaccines, food and agricultural products, commodities, high-tech products, and other essential supplies and services, contributing to sustainable economic recovery and resilience in the region.
Both sides also seek to deepen their collaboration on transport connectivity, including air, land, maritime, and transport facilitation programme to advance sustainable infrastructure development and support emerging technologies, including electric vehicles, said the joint statement.
— NNN-BERNAMA