US pledges to support ASEAN in playing central role in region

Vice President Kamala Harris affirmed the US's strong and long-term commitment to ASEAN and its support for ASEAN's central role in the region.

The 11th ASEAN -US Summit took place on the afternoon of September 6 in Jakarta (Indonesia). US Vice President Kamala Harris affirmed that the US has a strong and long-term commitment to ASEAN and the region, supporting ASEAN to play a central role.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and US Vice President Kamala Harris

NORTH JAPAN

Ms. Harris also emphasized that the two sides share interests, priorities, and long-term visions, and work together to respond to common challenges. The US will establish an ASEAN-US Center in Washington DC, facilitating exchanges between people, businesses, and scholars of ASEAN and the US.

The conference highly appreciated the positive progress in cooperation in recent times. In 2022, the US was the largest investment partner in the region, with a total foreign direct investment of 36.5 billion USD, and was also the second largest trading partner of ASEAN with a total two-way trade turnover of 420.4 billion USD.

The two sides agreed to promote trade and investment exchanges, stabilize supply chains, improve medical capacity, and expand cooperation in science and technology application, sustainable infrastructure development, digital transformation, energy, environmental protection, climate change response, sustainable maritime cooperation, green economy , and circular economy.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that ASEAN and the US are entering a new era of cooperation with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework established at the end of 2022. The two sides need to coordinate to implement an effective, substantive and mutually beneficial relationship.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to quickly turn economic and trade cooperation into a pillar and science, technology and innovation into a driving force to promote the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Accordingly, the two sides need to coordinate to promote harmonious and sustainable trade, stabilize supply chains, limit anti-dumping measures, subsidies and unnecessary measures on export products, which directly affect people's jobs and livelihoods.

ASEAN - US Summit on the afternoon of September 6

NORTH JAPAN

In addition, it is necessary to allocate appropriate resources to expand cooperation in science, technology and innovation, opening up new development space and creating strong momentum for economic growth and sustainable development.

In order to build a sustainable future for more than 1 billion people, the Prime Minister suggested that ASEAN coordinate with the US to effectively implement the ASEAN-US Future Initiatives on health, education, energy, environment, climate change, and sustainable development. At the same time, he hoped that the ASEAN-US Center would effectively contribute to these efforts.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister asked the US to promote cooperation and support Vietnam in responding to climate change and implementing the Partnership Declaration for a Just Energy Transition. Continue to support the development of the Mekong sub-region through the Mekong-US Partnership mechanism, including ensuring sustainable development efforts in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region.

The 11th ASEAN-US Summit adopted a Joint Statement on Cooperation based on the ASEAN AOIP Outlook.

ASEAN - Canada establish strategic partnership

The ASEAN-Canada Summit unanimously adopted a Joint Statement officially establishing the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirmed that he highly values relations with ASEAN, strongly supports ASEAN's central position, commits to further engagement and presence in the region, upholds international principles, and actively contributes to peace, stability, cooperation and development.

The Canadian Prime Minister affirmed to closely coordinate with ASEAN to implement the newly established Strategic Partnership in a more practical and effective manner, and expressed his desire to participate in ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that this is the right time to elevate the ASEAN-Canada relationship to a strategic partnership, opening a new era in cooperation, and affirmed that Vietnam will actively coordinate with countries to turn commitments into practical and concrete actions, worthy of the new stature of the relationship.

Thanhnien.vn