HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday highlighted Brunei Darussalam’s two-step approach to address the issue of the South China Sea.
Delivering a titah at the 11th East Asia Summit held at the National Convention Centre, Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, His Majesty said the issue should be addressed “firstly through peaceful dialogue and consultations, and in accordance with international law, including the 1982 the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Secondly, Asean and China can promote a calm, peaceful and conducive environment for the claimant states to conduct talks.”
His Majesty expressed his pleasure on the positive outcomes of the Asean-China Summit, where it was agreed that the ‘Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea’ will be observed and hotlines for maritime emergencies between our respective foreign ministries will be established.
Aside from that, His Majesty expressed pleasure for the significant progress achieved in the six priority areas of cooperation, especially in environment and natural disaster management. To address the concerns brought about by climate change, emphasis should be given to mitigation and adaptation measures, as highlighted in the Singapore Declaration, adopted in 2007.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam with US President Barack Obama and other leaders during the 11th East Asia Summit. – AFP
In this regard, Brunei Darussalam is committed to addressing the global challenge in line with its environmental policy and national capability. Steps are being taken to mitigate its effects including through forest conservation efforts such as the Heart of Borneo Initiative.
His Majesty highlighted that it is in the shared interests of the region to reduce the vulnerabilities of the peoples from the impact of disasters. Effective coordination and responses in times of crisis are crucial to minimise the damage caused by disasters, and most importantly, to save the lives of people.
His Majesty also stressed that Brunei Darussalam will continue to support international efforts to address incidents related to terrorism and violent extremism in a comprehensive manner. His Majesty stated that these acts should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group.
His Majesty also highlighted ways to address the issue, such as bringing people together to promote tolerance, moderation and respect for life, participating in bilateral, regional and international efforts, and to have coordinated, accurate and timely information sharing between frontline agencies.
The East Asia Summit began with welcoming remarks by Thongloun Sisoulith, the Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Chairman of Asean who welcomed the East Asia heads of state and government attending the summit.
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