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PM talks East Sea issue with Philippine Senate President

Manila, May 22 (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Philippine Senate President Franklin Drilon have reached consensus on raising their common voice against China’s violation of international law when placing its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters.
They also agreed to call on ASEAN as well as the international community to condemn China’s illegal act when they met in Manila on May 22 during PM Dung’s visit to the Philippines.
Both host and guest agreed that China has conducted more and more actions infringing international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
It has used forces to realise its ungrounded “nine-dot line” claim, violating sovereignty over sea and islands of Vietnam and other countries, they noted, adding that China’s present moves are particularly dangerous, seriously threatening peace, maritime security and safety in the East Sea.
PM Dung held that Vietnam and the Philippines should enhance their partnership and solidarity with ASEAN and follow international law to object China’s acts, while calling for support to the two countries’ stance of settling disputes through peaceful measures in accordance with international law, the 1982 UNCLOS and DOC.
He also thanked Philippine people for their support of the viewpoints shared by the two countries on the East Sea issue.
For his part, President Drilon affirmed that he and the Philippine Senate vigorously back the two governments’ principled standpoints in demanding China respect international law and solve disputes by peaceful measures, especially on the basis of the 1982 UNCLOS, of which the Philippines, Vietnam and China are all signatories.
Their participation in the Convention requires all involved countries, including China, to abide by their obligations, he said. The observation of the obligations is a guarantee for peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea , he stated.
President Drilon asserted that this obligation was the reason why the Philippines asked the international court to intervene when China violated its sovereignty.
At the event, PM Dung expressed his delight at the growing friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, emphasising that Vietnam hopes to work with the Philippines to lift up the bilateral ties to a new level.
He also briefed his host on the outcomes of his talks with President Benigno Aquino III on May 21, with agreements in major issues including ways to deepen bilateral relations and the establishment of a Joint Working Group led by two foreign ministers.
The group will help draw a roadmap for a bilateral strategic partnership for peace, stability, cooperation and progress in the region as well as maritime security and safety in the East Sea in accordance with international law, he said.
The Philippine Senate President welcomed the intensive affiliation of the two governments in all fields, especially politics and diplomacy as well as economics, trade and investment, and said he strived to accelerate bilateral ties to a new height.
He also accepted with pleasure the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung to visit Vietnam and attend the 123 rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Hanoi in 2015.
VNA/VNP


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