RoK Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha (Photo: EPA/VNA) Sydney (VNA) – Australia and the Republic of Korea (RoK) expressed their grave concern over recent developments in the East Sea, and affirmed the importance to maintain and promote peace and stability in the waters, at the fourth Australia – RoK Foreign and Defence Ministers Meeting in Sydney. In a joint statement announced on December 12, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds, and their Korean counterparts Kang Kyung-wha and Jeong Kyeong-doo emphasised the significance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, and the need for states to resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The ministers acknowledged ongoing discussions on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea, and called for a COC to be consistent with international law, including UNCLOS, … [Read more...] about Australia, RoK voice concern over East Sea dispute
Inclusiveness
Việt Nam making strides in workers’ rights
Deborah Greenfield, Deputy Director-General for Policy at the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Deborah Greenfield, Deputy Director-General for Policy at the International Labour Organisation, spoke to Viet Nam News reporter Thu Vân about the Vietnamese Government's efforts to change its labour laws in line with requirements on labour rights in free trade agreements it has recently ratified, like the CPTPP and the EVFTA, as well as the challenges ahead in the world of work. Việt Nam has recently ratified the CPTPP and signed the EVFTA, and these two trade agreements include provisions on labour rights and require the country to make certain changes to its labour laws. Việt Nam has made changes to its labour code, ratified the ILO Convention 98 and plans to ratify Convention 87 on the freedom of association by 2023. How do you evaluate such efforts by the … [Read more...] about Việt Nam making strides in workers’ rights