There should be dialogues among ASEAN member nations and between the group and China to find solutions for territorial disputes in the East Sea, an Indonesian speaker has said.

Hassan Wirajuda, former Indonesian Foreign Minister

Dr. Hassan Wirajuda, former Indonesian Foreign Minister, made the suggestion at a seminar held in Hanoi on July 2, during which he stressed tensions in the East Sea cannot be settled by using force.

At the event, organised by the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences, he briefed participants about the current ASEAN situation and orientations to accelerate the formation of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

Once the community is established, ASEAN will play an important role in the process of building a greater community in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, he said, adding that the target will be only realised if member nations strengthen their integration and the development gap among them is narrowed.

Regarding the Viet Nam-Indonesia ties, Hassan voiced that the two countries can easily reach a concurrence for issues of common concern.

The two sides should take advantage of their strategic partnership to foster their development and join hands in solving regional important issues, including the East Sea tensions, the speaker added.

(Source: VNA)