Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit

According to a special correspondent of the Vietnam News Agency, on the afternoon of October 26, continuing the series of ASEAN Summits with Partners in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, ASEAN leaders and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae attended the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit.

The 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

At the Conference, ASEAN leaders emphasized that Japan is one of ASEAN's oldest and most trusted partners. The cooperation between the two sides has developed extensively and dynamically, becoming a model of a substantive and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the region. To date, ASEAN and Japan have implemented 108 out of 130 lines of action to realize the Common Vision on ASEAN-Japan Partnership of Trust, Friendship and Cooperation.

Japan is also currently ASEAN's fourth largest trading partner and fifth largest foreign direct investor, with two-way trade reaching US$236.6 billion in 2024 and total investment capital reaching US$17.5 billion. In particular, Japan's initiatives to strengthen cooperation in the region and with ASEAN - including the Co-creation Initiative, the Asian Net Zero Emission Community (AZEC), and the Asian Energy Transition (AETI) - are bringing concrete benefits to people in both regions.

ASEAN leaders and the Japanese Prime Minister agreed that there is still much potential for cooperation between the two sides and affirmed their commitment to further deepening the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Specifically, in the coming time, ASEAN and Japan will prioritize promoting cooperation in digital transformation, innovation, clean energy, education, healthcare, cyber security, climate change response, food security, sustainable agriculture , etc., in which making the most of the ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Fund (JAIF 3.0) to support project implementation.

ASEAN countries also hope to work with Japan to soon upgrade the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) and effectively implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). At the same time, ASEAN countries request Japan to support the Association in the implementation of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), the realization of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), the effective operation of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED), the Regional Medical Supplies Warehouse, the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan Phase 5 (2026-2030), as well as sub-regional cooperation and narrowing the development gap within ASEAN.

Discussing the world and regional situation, ASEAN and Japanese leaders emphasized compliance with international law, supported the multilateral trading system based on rules; affirmed the importance of promoting dialogue, cooperation, building trust, resolving disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, contributing to maintaining an environment of peace, security and stability in the region.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae speaks at the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

In her speech, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae was delighted to meet ASEAN leaders on her first trip as Prime Minister. She affirmed that Japan was the first country to support and will continue to support the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Outlook (AIOP), linking Japan's major cooperation strategies and programs with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, and together with ASEAN, continue to promote the pillars of cooperation between ASEAN and Japan on peace and stability, socio-economic development for the future, and heart-to-heart partnership for future generations.

The Japanese Prime Minister proposed further promoting specific areas of cooperation such as maritime security, cyber security, transnational crime prevention, building a secure, safe and reliable artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, natural disaster prevention, promoting education and training, etc.

Speaking at the Conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and ASEAN leaders congratulated Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on becoming Japan's first female Prime Minister and affirmed that they will closely cooperate with Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to promote common priorities.

The Prime Minister affirmed that after more than 50 years of establishing relations, ASEAN and Japan have become sincere and trustworthy partners, sharing many common interests and goals for an open, inclusive, rules-based and ASEAN-centered regional structure.

The Prime Minister emphasized that in the context of the rapidly evolving and complex global and regional situation, the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership needs to transform strongly, “from heart to heart”, “from action to action”, “from emotion to effectiveness”. Accordingly, the Prime Minister proposed three focuses of cooperation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends and delivers a speech at the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Specifically, the Prime Minister suggested that the two sides promote economic ties towards a green, inclusive and comprehensive transformation in the digital age, along with promptly upgrading the Free Trade Agreement, prioritizing cooperation on digital economy, green economy, sustainable supply chains and soon completing the General Aviation Agreement. Promote cooperation in education, training, healthcare, science and technology and environmental protection to narrow the development gap, especially in training high-quality human resources, applying digital technology, AI as well as improving preventive medicine capacity, warning and responding to epidemics. At the same time, it is necessary to promote cultural exchanges imbued with national identity between ASEAN and Japan. The Prime Minister also suggested that Japan increase technology transfer and human resource training on nuclear power and nuclear safety for ASEAN countries.

Emphasizing cooperation in maintaining regional peace, security and stability, including peaceful settlement of disputes, including maritime disputes, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for a prosperous, safe and sustainable future in the region, the Prime Minister affirmed that ASEAN is ready to play a constructive role, facilitating dialogue between relevant parties, including through ASEAN-led mechanisms, towards long-term peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

At the end of the Conference, ASEAN and Japanese leaders adopted a Joint Statement on Promoting and Implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/chinh-tri/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-du-hoi-nghi-cap-cao-asean-nhat-ban-lan-thu-28-20251026195209797.htm