Pres. Aquino advocates full declarationon the conduct of parties in South China Sea

President Benigno S. Aquino III has called anew for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

President Aquino issued the call during his intervention at the 6th ASEAN-United Nations Summit, held at the Sapphire Hall of the Myanmar International Convention Center on Wednesday (Nov. 12).

Emphasizing that global stability is “founded on respect among nations and the observance of the rule of law,” the President said the Philippines will continue to advocate for the full and effective implementation of the DOC, for the “expeditious conclusion of a legally binding” COC, and for arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“As a responsible member of the international community, the Philippines will abide by the laws and principles that we have committed ourselves to; these very laws and principles illuminate our path towards achieving our shared objectives for our peoples, our region, and for humanity,” he said.

During his intervention, the President also said that as a founding member of the UN and the ASEAN, the Philippines believes that closely aligning the ASEAN’s post-2015 vision with the UN’s post-2015 development agenda “serves a singular purpose: to empower more of our countrymen to live more dignified lives.”

The President also emphasized the importance of increased cooperation when responding to particular threats and issues, such as the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa.

President Aquino said the Philippines will continue to support the World Health Organization’s efforts to combat the spread of the deadly disease.

“It challenges the global community to action, and I can say that, within the limits of our capacity, the Philippines will continue to lend support to the World Health Organization to arrest the spread of this virus,” he said.

President Aquino further noted the Philippines’ advocacy for the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women.

“As a staunch supporter of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, the Philippines will be hosting in 2015 the AICHR Workshop on Developing Legal Instruments on Human Rights in ASEAN,” he said.

The President also called for a UN-led comprehensive and unified approach to address the threat of climate change.(PCOO News Release)