The Vietnamese Prime Minister said the discussion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China was disrupted due to Covid-19, suggesting an early restoration.

"We urge the parties to refrain, avoid complicating the situation, fully implement the international regulations, especially the good implementation of the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea (DOC) and restore the negotiations soon.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister said that Covid-19 had disrupted the discussions on COC development.

"In that context, Vietnam has worked with ASEAN to cooperate with stakeholders to restrain and not take actions that complicate the situation at sea and comply with international law," the Prime Minister said.

On June 23, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung said the most recent COC meeting was in October 2019 in Da Lat.

In HNCC 36, leaders of ASEAN countries discussed recent developments in the region and around the world.

The Vietnamese leaders affirmed that peace, security and stability in the region in general and in the East Sea in particular are the common interests and aspirations of the community, especially with ASEAN.

In addition, leaders of ASEAN countries also discussed efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting socio-economic recovery, intra-regional cooperation, not allowing the second wave of outbreaks to return to ASEAN.

Regarding the US-China competition, Vietnamese leaders said that the two countries are the top important partners of countries in the world.

"ASEAN always wants an Asia-Pacific region of peace, stability, prosperity, cooperation and development, and certainly does not want to have to choose sides," the Prime Minister said.

According to Vietnamese leaders, the biggest concern of the countries, including the US and China, is to repel Covid-19 and to recover the economy.

As the chair of ASEAN this year, Vietnam works with ASEAN members to strengthen solidarity, promote the centrality of ASEAN, and promote the organization of conferences with China and the US on anti-epidemic cooperation.

The Prime Minister said in ASEAN's first online conference, all leaders of member countries agreed on many issues of the Association.