The countries reviewed the implementation of the forum's activities in the 2022-2023 academic year, exchanged directions for the ARF in the coming time, and discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern. The countries affirmed the importance of the ARF as the leading forum in the region to promote dialogue and cooperation on political and security issues, contributing to joint efforts to build trust and preventive diplomacy. The countries emphasized that the ARF is an indispensable component of the regional structure with ASEAN at the center. In the context of complex and unpredictable changes, the Ministers agreed to enhance the effectiveness of the ARF's operations, promote the value, vitality and adaptability of the Forum to current and future opportunities and challenges. The countries agreed to maintain cooperation in the fields of maritime security, disaster relief, cyber security, counter-terrorism and transnational crime, nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, defense cooperation, peacekeeping, etc. and approved a list of activities for 2023-2024. Vietnam will co-chair a number of ARF activities on the implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), counter-terrorism and transnational crime, and counter-chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological terrorism.

Minister Bui Thanh Son reviewed the development of ARF over the past 30 years, emphasizing that ARF's great contribution is to form the habit of consultation and dialogue. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son announced that Vietnam will co-chair the ARF Inter-Sessional Group on Disaster Relief for the 2024-2026 term with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The conference adopted a Joint Statement commemorating the 30th anniversary of the ARF, co-sponsored by Indonesia, Vietnam and Canada. The statement reaffirmed ASEAN's leading role in the regional architecture, committed to promoting constructive dialogue, enhancing cooperation, ensuring the proactive, full participation and contributions of countries to the development of the ARF. Minister Bui Thanh Son reviewed the development of the ARF over the past 30 years, emphasizing that the great contribution of the ARF is to form the habit of consultation and dialogue. The process of building ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea issue is a clear demonstration of the efforts and achievements of consultation, affirming and promoting basic principles such as peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law and UNCLOS 1982. Discussing future directions, Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized the need to ensure ASEAN's central role, uphold the goals and principles of the ARF, shape substantive agendas, promote the responsibilities of members, and maintain a balanced and inclusive approach. The culture of dialogue and consultation needs to be maintained, strengthened and developed with ASEAN at the center, thereby contributing to peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.

Overview of the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Discussing the international and regional situation, the countries exchanged views on recent complex developments, shared ASEAN's balanced and objective viewpoints, and supported ASEAN in promoting its central role in shaping an open, transparent, inclusive and international law-based regional structure. Minister Bui Thanh Son reaffirmed Vietnam's approach, taking dialogue, consultation and trust building as the main tools in resolving disagreements and differences. The Minister affirmed that over the past 30 years, through consultation, ASEAN has succeeded in building a common stance on the East Sea with principles such as self-restraint, peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law, and UNCLOS 1982. "While committing to fully and effectively implementing the DOC, ASEAN and China are working together towards a substantive, effective and consistent COC in accordance with international law, UNCLOS 1982," said Minister Bui Thanh Son. At the end of this series of Conferences, the Foreign Ministers adopted and acknowledged nearly 40 documents of various types, of which the Joint Communiqué of the 56th AMM Conference comprehensively reflected the contents and results of the discussions.