ISTANBUL

Vietnam said Friday that Southeast Asia has "emerged as a region of solidarity and cooperation," while noting that the world is facing “intense geopolitical tensions” not seen since the Cold War days.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has “affirmed its centrality” in maintaining peace and prosperity in the region as he addressed the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York and urged "restraint" in the disputed South China Sea.

Pham said Vietnam is committed to working with countries “within and outside the region to safeguard peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea in accordance with international law and 1982 UNCLOS.”

Without naming, he said: “It is also necessary to exercise restraint and refrain from unilateral actions and address disputed and differences by peaceful means, including diplomatic and legal processes.”

Notably, the warm waters of the South China Sea have witnessed hot disputes between China and ASEAN members.

Hanoi and Beijing also have overlapping maritime claims in the disputed waters.

China has pushed back the passage of warships and reconnaissance flights by the US and her allies in and above the South China Sea.