Towards cooperation for peace, stability and sustainable prosperous development

* The 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit welcomed the implementation of the 2020-2024 Action Plan. In 2022, total two-way trade turnover reached US$101.08 billion, while Australia's FDI in ASEAN reached US$2.01 billion.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese affirmed his appreciation for ASEAN and his commitment to implementing the Southeast Asia Economic Cooperation Strategy to 2040, creating momentum for the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; and looked forward to the ASEAN-Australia 50th Anniversary Summit in March 2024 in Melbourne, Australia, which will contribute to the strong development of cooperation.

Appreciating the Australian Future for ASEAN initiative worth 124 million AUD to support response to challenges, recovery and sustainable development in the region, ASEAN agreed with Australia to focus on promoting trade, investment, market access, and strengthening multilateral trade links, including effectively implementing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), cooperationin education , training, vocational training, human resource development, digital transformation, disaster management, energy transition, and climate change response. The Australian Prime Minister emphasized cooperation in responding to challenges such as climate change, transnational crime, and supporting ASEAN in implementing priorities such as carbon neutrality strategy, blue economy, food security, and clean energy.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that over nearly 50 years of developing relations, ASEAN and Australia have become close neighbors, reliable partners and sincere friends.

Aiming for new heights in the next 50 years and beyond, the Prime Minister emphasized that strengthening economic-trade ties in a balanced and sustainable manner should be considered the focus and driving force for development, and that it is necessary to coordinate the implementation of the AANZFTA Agreement, promote trade and investment liberalization, and enhance connectivity.

The Prime Minister added that developing high-quality human resources is a strategic breakthrough for ASEAN-Australia relations, aiming towards a sustainable development future for the people. Accordingly, he hoped that both sides would coordinate to further strengthen this effort, better meeting development requirements in the new period.

The Prime Minister proposed to successfully build new pillars of cooperation on innovation, and jointly support the successful implementation of the digital and green transformation towards sustainable development. Accordingly, he looked forward to the ASEAN-Australia High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy Transition co-chaired by Australia, Vietnam and Laos to be held later this year in Hanoi, making practical contributions to this effort. The Prime Minister hoped that Australia would continue to pay attention to and support the development of the Mekong sub-region, including the Mekong Delta, through the framework of the Mekong-Australia Partnership.

At the end of the Conference, the Leaders adopted a Joint Statement on strengthening cooperation to ensure food security in times of crisis.

* The 13th ASEAN-UN Summit shared vision and commitment to uphold multilateralism, rule of law, and enhance coordination in response to global challenges.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that in the current difficult and challenging context, the ASEAN-UN Comprehensive Partnership is even more important, welcoming ASEAN to promote its role as a convergence and bridge, helping to enhance understanding and build trust among countries. The Secretary-General affirmed that in today's multipolar world, the United Nations needs the support of multilateral institutions such as ASEAN, thereby appreciating ASEAN countries for sending more than 5,000 staff to participate in UN peacekeeping efforts.

Reviewing the progress of the implementation of the Action Plan for the 2021-2025 period, delegates agreed to strengthen coordination and support to improve expertise and capacity to respond to non-traditional security challenges, health self-reliance, regional economic integration, energy transition, disaster management, environmental protection, green growth, etc. The UN Secretary-General proposed to promote bilateral cooperation in implementing sustainable development goals, focusing on cooperation in energy transition, digital education, health, employment, biodiversity conservation, disaster management, etc.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that in today's context, responding to global issues can only be successful through a global, all-people approach that promotes multilateralism, ensuring fairness and justice. The Prime Minister expects the ASEAN-UN Comprehensive Partnership to truly become one of the leading flags in consolidating international solidarity, persistently pursuing multilateral cooperation, firmly ensuring peace and security, and promoting prosperous and sustainable development in the world.

To achieve that goal, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to actively coordinate the implementation of the Roadmap for the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development to 2030. The Prime Minister asked the United Nations to pay special attention to and support Vietnam and the Mekong River basin countries in managing and sustainably using water resources, improving the capacity to respond to climate change and rising sea levels, especially in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. At the same time, support Vietnam to successfully implement the Equal Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Agreement, and transition to a green economy and a circular economy.

The Prime Minister hopes that the United Nations will continue to support ASEAN's central role in the region, closely coordinate with ASEAN to promote values towards peace, enhance dialogue and cooperation, build trust, and form standards of conduct between countries in the spirit of respect for the law.

Affirming that Vietnam is an active and proactive member of ASEAN and the United Nations, the Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam will continue to make efforts with the highest responsibility, contributing to the common work of the United Nations, increasing participation in peacekeeping activities, and striving to fulfill its assigned international responsibilities, including its role as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, for the sustainable development and prosperity of all countries, regions and the whole world.

* Discussing regional and international issues, ASEAN and its Partners emphasized the importance of maintaining and ensuring a peaceful, secure and stable environment in the region, including the East Sea, which is of common concern and interest to all countries. The Partners affirmed their support for ASEAN's efforts, balanced and objective approach and common stance on these issues.

Sharing the opinions of other countries, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reaffirmed the common stance on the East Sea, calling on Partners to support the full and effective implementation of the DOC Declaration, and the development of an effective, efficient, and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, contributing to making the East Sea a sea of peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development.

* On the afternoon of September 7, 2023, Leaders of ASEAN countries and Partners attended the Closing Ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related Summits and the Ceremony of transferring the ASEAN Chairmanship from Indonesia to Laos.

In his speech assuming the rotating ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone officially announced the theme of ASEAN Year 2024 as “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience ”, sharing the focus and priorities on strengthening solidarity, unity and centrality of ASEAN, promoting the building of a connected, resilient, sustainable and adaptive Community in the face of rapid and complex challenges and changes in the region.

After three days of intensive and active work, the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related Summits were a great success, concluding ASEAN cooperation in 2023 with many substantial and impressive results, while creating new momentum and expectations for ASEAN to continue to develop strongly in the following years, towards realizing " ASEAN Stature: The Heart of Growth" .

The Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proactively and actively participated and made substantial and effective contributions to all activities, conveying messages about a more proactive, positive, responsible and effective Vietnam along with many important orientation proposals and practical initiatives, actively contributing to the efforts to consolidate and promote the process of building the ASEAN Community, regional integration and strengthening relations between ASEAN and its Partners.

On the evening of September 7, 2023, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation left Indonesia to return home, successfully concluding their working trip to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related Summits./.

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