The Prime Minister called on all parties involved in the conflict to end violence against civilians.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, speaking at the ASEAN-GCC Summit, called on all parties to end acts of violence targeting civilians, humanitarian facilities, and essential infrastructure.

"With their strengths as highly successful regional organizations, ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) need to support each other to enhance their central role and make practical contributions to peace, stability, and development in both regions and the world ," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated on October 20 at the first ASEAN-GCC Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

"We strongly condemn all acts of force and call on all parties involved to immediately cease acts of violence against civilians, humanitarian facilities, and essential infrastructure," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Vietnamese leaders affirmed that only negotiation and dialogue, resolving disagreements through peaceful means, and achieving a two-state solution based on international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council is the only path to bringing lasting and sustainable peace to the Middle East and all countries.

The statement comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East over the Hamas-Israel conflict. More than 5,100 people in Israel and Gaza have been killed, including many civilians. ASEAN and GCC countries are calling on all parties to cease fire immediately and respect international humanitarian law.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud attend the ASEAN-GCC Summit on October 20. Photo: ASEAN-GCC Forum

The Prime Minister also outlined other directions for ASEAN-GCC, including further facilitating the role of economics, trade, and investment as the main pillars and driving force connecting the two regions.

To achieve this, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for investment funds and businesses from GCC countries to expand their investments and business activities in ASEAN, and to support the increased presence of ASEAN goods and services in the Gulf region. The parties should also prioritize cooperation in developing the green economy, digital economy, sustainable agriculture, and energy transition.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that ASEAN and the GCC promote three key connections: people, culture, and labor; trade, investment, tourism, and infrastructure through strategic infrastructure investment.

In light of the complex challenges in the current global and regional situation, ASEAN and GCC leaders agreed to maintain regular exchanges and focus on cooperation in economics, trade, investment, ensuring sustainable supply chains, as well as connectivity, maritime cooperation, energy security, food security, Halal industry, energy transition, and climate change response.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is currently on a working trip to attend the ASEAN-GCC Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from October 18-20 at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This is the first time leaders of ASEAN and GCC countries have met after 33 years of establishing relations.

In 2022, cooperation between ASEAN and the GCC progressed positively, with total trade reaching US$142.25 billion and foreign direct investment nearly US$523.5 million. The number of GCC tourists visiting the ASEAN region exceeded 375,000.

Saudi Arabia is Vietnam's leading economic partner in the Middle East. In 2022, bilateral trade reached US$2.7 billion, and over US$2 billion in the first nine months of this year.

Hoai Thu

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