South Korea pledges to maintain rules-based order in South China Sea

Ambassador Lee Jang-keun said that South Korea is closely following the progress of negotiations on the COC between ASEAN and China, and hopes for an effective and substantive COC that is in line with international law.

Hàn Quốc cam kết duy trì trật tự dựa trên luật lệ ở Biển Đông ảnh 1

South Korean Ambassador to ASEAN Lee Jang-keun talks with VNA's resident correspondent in Indonesia. (Photo: Huu Chien/VNA)

South Korea is committed to maintaining a rules-based order in the South China Sea, including freedom of navigation and overflight, based on international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On September 8, in an interview with a VNA reporter in Jakarta, Korean Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Lee Jang-keun emphasized that the East Sea accounts for one-third of global maritime transport, so peace and stability in the region are vital for ASEAN to become a growth hub.

Ambassador Lee said that South Korea closely follows the progress of negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China, and hopes for an effective and substantive COC that is consistent with international law and respects the rights of third parties.

[Indonesia promotes negotiations on Code of Conduct in the East Sea]

Ambassador Lee said the world is facing a series of crises with intertwined challenges, from growing geopolitical divisions and a severe downturn in the global economy to supply chain disruptions and climate change.

According to the Korean diplomat , although causing many problems and obstacles, the above challenges can also be a catalyst for collective cooperation, bringing not only difficulties but also opportunities.

Ambassador Lee affirmed that this is an opportunity for ASEAN to play an increasingly important role.

Since its establishment in 1967, ASEAN has made significant contributions to peace, stability and prosperity in the region through the building of the ASEAN Community and ASEAN-led regional architecture.

According to Ambassador Lee, to address the challenges of the times, the world hopes for ASEAN's contribution based on the organization's central role.

For its part, ASEAN needs to continue its efforts to promote regional integration and connectivity based on ASEAN-led initiatives, including the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI).

Ambassador Lee said this will help ASEAN play a pioneering role in promoting regional cooperation with dialogue partners to respond to issues such as digitalization, climate change, decarbonization and geopolitical challenges, while allowing ASEAN to expand and achieve more./.

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