Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet attends the 39th ASEAN-Japan Forum

Both ASEAN and Japan emphasized the importance and value of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for each side and the region.

Delegates attending the ASEAN-Japan Forum take a group photo.

On June 25, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet, Head of Vietnam's ASEAN SOM, along with SOM Heads and Heads of delegations from ASEAN countries and Japan attended the 39th annual ASEAN-Japan Forum in Bangkok, Thailand.

The countries reviewed the cooperation situation, proposed orientations and measures to further develop the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming time, and discussed the international and regional situation.

At the Forum, countries welcomed the successful and meaningful ASEAN-Japan Summit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations (Tokyo, December 2023), opening a new chapter of cooperation in the bilateral partnership in the next stage of development.

Both ASEAN and Japan emphasized the importance and value of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for each side and the region, and agreed that the ASEAN-Japan relationship is currently one of the most dynamic, substantive and effective relationships in ASEAN's foreign relations.

Deputy Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi, Head of Japan's SOM, affirmed that Japan is always a reliable partner of ASEAN, supports ASEAN's central role and actively contributes to peace , security, stability and development in the region.

Welcoming the positive developments in recent times, ASEAN and Japan affirmed to closely coordinate in implementing the results of the 2023 Commemorative Summit, including the Joint Vision Statement and the Plan for Implementation of the Statement, to promote the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to develop substantially, effectively and for mutual benefit in the coming time.

Along with further strengthening economic , trade, investment, supply chain self-reliance, business development, people-to-people exchange, education, and healthcare cooperation, the countries agreed to expand cooperation to potential areas, towards a sustainable future such as digital transformation, green transformation, clean energy, climate change response, etc. Japan agreed with ASEAN to continue to promote cooperation in responding to non-traditional security challenges and maritime cooperation.

ASEAN expects Japan to soon concretize the initiatives and commitments of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the Commemorative Summit through specific cooperation programs and projects.

Faced with increasing tensions, violence and conflicts in many regions of the world, such as the Korean Peninsula, the East Sea, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Middle East, etc., countries emphasized strengthening coordinated efforts to ensure peace, security and stability in the region, including in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, creating a favorable environment for cooperation and development, promoting compliance with international law, resolving disputes and conflicts by peaceful means on the basis of the United Nations Charter and international law, including UNCLOS 1982.

Speaking at the Forum, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet affirmed his hope that the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will actively and effectively contribute to efforts to promote inclusive growth towards a sustainable development future for the countries and people of both sides and the region.

Accordingly, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet suggested that the two sides should strengthen cooperation in connectivity and development of high-quality infrastructure, including through the Mekong-Japan cooperation framework, contributing to the overall development of ASEAN.

At the same time, the Deputy Minister proposed that Japan increase support for ASEAN countries to implement their commitments to reduce carbon emissions, promote energy transition, and respond to climate change, through mechanisms and initiatives such as AZEC, the Asian Energy Transition Initiative, and the Clean Energy Future for ASEAN Initiative.

Regarding the world and regional situation, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet proposed that Japan continue to support ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea, especially the principles of restraint, peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law and UNCLOS 1982, support efforts to fully and effectively implement the DOC Declaration and create a favorable environment for negotiations to build an effective, substantive COC in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS 1982, contributing to building the East Sea into a sea of ​​peace, stability, cooperation and development.