The three littoral states Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to keep the Straits of Malacca and Singapore "free, open and safe" for international maritime passage amid disruptions to traffic at crucial Gulf waterways due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
In a joint statement issued during the ongoing 17th Co-operation Forum held in Singapore, the three countries underscored the importance of respecting freedom of navigation and said SOMS is an international navigation route where transit passage rights apply under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
At the forum, the three countries, along with other stakeholders, will discuss new technologies, alternative fuels and review projects to improve navigation safety and environmental protection in the Strait of Malacca, the statement said.
"In our part of the world, we will endeavor to keep the Straits of Malacca and Singapore free, open and safe for international shipping," Singapore's Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow said in his opening remarks at the forum according to a separate statement.
The Straits of Malacca and Singapore are key global trade routes, accounting for over 100,000 vessels, nearly a quarter of global seaborne trade, and almost one-third of the world's oil and gas supplies, the statement added.