Vietnam determined to effectively deploy no nuclear weapons

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son at the conference. Photo: VNA

According to a VNA correspondent in Jakarta, on the morning of July 11, the first activities of the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) within the framework of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-56) and related meetings took place in Jakarta (Indonesia).

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the Conference of the Commission of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ) and the dialogue session with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).

The SEANWFZ Treaty Commission heard the ASEAN Secretary-General report on the implementation of the SEANWFZ Action Plan for the 2023-2027 period, welcomed the results achieved in promoting nuclear security and safety as well as in ASEAN cooperation with partners, and agreed to continue seeking solutions for nuclear-weapon states to join the treaty.

In particular, in the context of witnessing many fluctuations and challenges, including the risk of nuclear conflict, the ministers once again affirmed the political will of the countries participating in the Treaty to maintain the goals of SEANWFZ, consultation and dialogue for a Southeast Asia free of nuclear weapons.

The Ministers adopted the Concept Paper on Joint Cooperation Initiatives between ASEAN and the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL), which contributes to enhancing the value of the SEANWFZ Treaty and contributing to joint efforts against nuclear proliferation and disarmament.

Sharing the importance of SEANWFZ, Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized the need to enhance the value and position of the treaty in the current complex and potentially risky context, affirming Vietnam's commitment and determination to effectively implement the Treaty Action Plan and agreeing with ASEAN to continue to promote nuclear-weapon states to join the SEANWFZ Protocol.

Also on the morning of July 11, the ministers had a dialogue session with the AICHR Commission. With 15 activities over the past year, the AICHR Commission has promoted cooperation on human rights, achieving concrete results in many areas such as the rights of persons with disabilities, children's rights, climate change, environmental rights, etc.

Through consultation, policy support for specialized agencies and field trips, AICHR has the opportunity to exchange and listen to the opinions and concerns of many groups and genders, contributing practically to bringing the ASEAN Community closer to the people and better meeting their needs.

The foreign ministers emphasized that promoting and ensuring human rights is the content and consistent goal of the process of building the ASEAN Community.

Faced with the positive and negative impacts of many emerging issues that have profound impacts on human rights, the ministers emphasized that AICHR, with its assigned roles and tasks, needs to improve operational efficiency, strengthen inter-sectoral consultation and dialogue to develop comprehensive solutions that best ensure the interests of the people and are consistent with the common concerns of the region.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son highly appreciated the efforts of AICHR and the results of implementing the Work Plan 2021-2025, and suggested that AICHR maintain a gradual approach, in line with the interests of countries; carry out cooperation activities with partners in a constructive spirit, goodwill, in accordance with ASEAN's principles, processes and procedures.

PV (synthesis)

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