ASEAN and Partners: Towards Peace, Stability and Sustainable Development

14:17, 14/07/2023

On the afternoon of July 13, within the framework of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-56), Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son continued to attend the ASEAN+1 Conferences with Japan, South Korea, the European Union (EU), the UK, Canada and the ASEAN+3 Conference, with the main focus being on reviewing cooperation and future orientations.

At the conferences, the ministers expressed their delight at the positive developments in relations between ASEAN and its partners, along with many positive results in almost all areas. The parties actively exploited new potentials and opportunities for cooperation, contributing to deepening the relationship, making it more practical and effective.

The partners affirmed their respect for ASEAN, supported the association's solidarity, unity and central role, committed to supporting ASEAN in building the Community, and jointly building an open, inclusive, transparent regional structure that operates based on international law.

Minister Bui Thanh Son and Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin co-chaired the ASEAN-Korea Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Speaking on behalf of ASEAN, Minister Bui Thanh Son reviewed the cooperation results achieved in all areas of security, economy , culture - society and people-to-people exchange.

The Minister suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation to ensure peace and stability, especially in responding to non-traditional security challenges, deepen economic cooperation for prosperity and promote cooperation for the people, towards a sustainable future.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son chaired the conference. Photo: VNA

On this occasion, the Minister announced that Vietnam will organize ASEAN-Korea Day later this year, contributing to further promoting bilateral relations.

ASEAN welcomed the Republic of Korea's announcement of the proposal to establish the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and highly appreciated the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Solidarity Initiative.

South Korea said it is implementing its commitment to double its contribution to the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund to US$32 million by 2027, and to allocate more than US$200 million for joint cooperation projects.

The ministers highlighted the significance of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations and welcomed the proposal to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership between ASEAN and Japan on this occasion.

The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in all areas, especially trade, investment, supply chain stability, connectivity, high-quality infrastructure development, and expand cooperation to new potential areas such as innovation, climate change response, and green growth.

Overview of the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Photo: VNA

ASEAN highly appreciated Japan's provision of a financial loan of 3.34 billion USD to support post-pandemic recovery efforts and an additional contribution of 100 million USD to the ASEAN-Japan Integration Fund.

The countries welcomed the success of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in December 2022. The conference has oriented and created momentum for new developments in the future.

The two sides agreed to promote cooperation, discuss economic and trade issues and exploit other potential areas such as digital economy, green technology, green services, while affirming their orientation towards the long-term goal of the ASEAN - EU Free Trade Agreement.

ASEAN welcomes the EU’s Team Europe investment package worth around €10 billion until 2027, supporting integration, capacity building and sustainable development efforts in the region.

At the ASEAN+3 Conference with China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN+3), ministers emphasized the need to maintain and promote ASEAN+3's inherent strengths such as economic, trade, financial cooperation, and disease prevention and response.

The ministers also agreed to expand new cooperation priorities to effectively address the difficulties and challenges facing the region. Accordingly, the countries agreed to strengthen existing economic and financial stability mechanisms, promote trade and investment exchanges, step up cooperation to ensure food security and sustainable agriculture, and effectively implement the ASEAN+3 Emergency Rice Reserve Fund.

The ministers highly appreciated the newly established ASEAN-UK dialogue relationship. The countries agreed to effectively implement the 2022-2026 Action Plan, while emphasizing the need to coordinate to deepen economic, trade and investment relations towards inclusive growth.

ASEAN highly appreciated the UK's proposal of key cooperation programs worth 113 million pounds over the next five years on regional economic integration, health, education, women, peace, security, climate change adaptation, etc.

With Canada, the countries committed to coordinating the implementation of the Joint Statement of the leaders commemorating the 45th anniversary of relations, towards establishing the ASEAN - Canada strategic partnership.

ASEAN welcomed Canada’s commitment to support the ASEAN Community building process, the establishment of a C$13.1 million Trust Fund, and the provision of training scholarships for ASEAN. The ministers stressed the need for both sides to effectively exploit the potential for cooperation, and to develop the relationship in a more dynamic and substantive manner.

Speaking at the conferences, Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomed the continued effective implementation of programs and action plans between ASEAN and its Partners, with many practical proposals and initiatives in line with the common concerns of the countries.

The Minister proposed to coordinate to promote inclusive recovery efforts, promote growth momentum, prioritize trade cooperation, investment, connectivity, human resource training, innovation, energy transition, food security, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.

Sharing the opinions of the countries, Minister Bui Thanh Son highly appreciated the commitment of the Partners to support ASEAN's leading role in efforts to promote dialogue, cooperation, and build trust in the region.

The Minister asked the Partners to support ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea, promote the significance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), support ASEAN and China to soon reach an effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and strive to build the East Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and sustainable development.

According to VNA/Vietnam+

Source link