BANGKOK — Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh urged Asean member states to bolster their partnership in regional nuclear safety and security during a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.
Minh was in the Thai capital to attend the Meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission, as part of the 52nd Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-52) and related meetings, which runs from July 29 to August 3.
In his remarks at the meeting, the Vietnamese Deputy PM highlighted the commission’s significant role in ensuring the absence of nuclear arms and weapons of mass destruction in the region.
Minh said he wants Asean to improve capacity and preparedness to prevent and respond to radiation emergencies, calling for strengthened coordination among specialized agencies in nuclear power and in disaster relief and response in the region.
At the same time, Asean needs to heighten the SEANWFZ’s role and contributions to international efforts in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction and pursuing nuclear disarmament, he told the meeting.
Minh called for greater efforts from Asean to remove barriers in order to enable five states with nuclear weapons to sign the Protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty.
During the meeting, the Asean countries affirmed the significance of the SEANWFZ Treaty and expressed desire and determination to keep Southeast Asia free of nuclear arms and all other weapons of mass destruction.
