Myanmar President Thein Sein spoke at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Summit.

In his opening speech, President of host country Myanmar Thein Sein emphasized ASEAN’s common efforts in ensuring peace and common prosperity in the region.

At the opening ceremony, it is expected that the Vietnamese Prime Minister will mention recent developments in the East Sea, including China’s illegal placement of an oil rig in Vietnam’s waters.

The 24th ASEAN Summit took place in Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang yesterday attended ministerial-level meetings.

The statement was issued a week after China placed a deep-water drilling rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, violating Vietnam’s sovereign rights and violating international law, causing clashes and tensions in the world.

In this special declaration, the ministers request relevant parties, on the basis of compliance with generally accepted principles of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),

The ministers affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability, security, maritime safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, as well as ASEAN’s 6-point Declaration of Principles on the East Sea

The Ministers also called on all parties to participate in the DOC and fully and effectively implement the DOC to create an environment of trust and build confidence.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stands next to President of the host country Then Sein (seventh from left), and heads of ASEAN countries in the capital Naypyitaw preparing to participate in the 24th ASEAN Summit. Photo: Reuters.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino, before leaving for Myanmar yesterday, urged Southeast Asian countries to face and resolve China’s sovereignty claims in the East Sea, proposing to speed up the negotiation process to allow

There are four countries in the Association that have disputes in the East Sea with China, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is experiencing a test of solidarity.