Minister attends ASEAN Summits with partners

They committed their support to the ASEAN Community building process, which is working towards meeting goals set out in the vision. They also affirmed that they backed the central role played by ASEAN in the region.

Leaders reviewed relations between the group and its partners in recent years and put forward orientations to strengthen co-operation.

At the 18th ASEAN-Japan Summit, leaders spoke highly of results of the implementation of the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Co-operation approved in 2013.

Japan is ASEAN's third largest trade partner, with two-way trade hitting US$229 billion in 2014. It ranks second among investors in the bloc with a total registered capital of US$23.4 billion.

The two sides agreed to aim to double their trade and investment targets by 2022, and agreed to give priority to regional connections and integration promotion, narrowing the development gap and enhancing sub-regional links by implementing the 2015 Tokyo Strategy for Mekong-Japan co-operation.

They committed to working closely in the fight against terrorism and transnational crimes, concurring that they would deploy relevant working plans soon. The two sides also reached a consensus on strengthened co-operation in the fields of energy, disaster management and relief, health care, information and communication technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

At the 17th ASEAN-RoK Summit, leaders reviewed the implementation of the Action Plan for 2011-2015 and applauded the approval of the Action Plan for the next five years.

The RoK has been ASEAN's fifth largest trade partner since 2010 and is currently the sixth largest investor in the group. The two sides are committed to lifting two-way trade to US$200 billion by 2020.

The two sides will advance links in climate change adaptation, sustainable forest management, infrastructure connectivity, IT and communications, people-to-people exchanges and bridging the development gap.

They also stressed the importance of cultural ties, and agreed to a plan to set up an ASEAN culture house in Busan by 2017.

At the ASEAN-UN Summit, the delegates welcomed the approval of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

The parties highlighted the reciprocal relationship between the agenda and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 in improving the living standards of Southeast Asian residents. They pledged to consolidate and expand ASEAN-UN relations in order to maintain peace, security and prosperity in the region and strengthen regional structure, in which ASEAN holds the central role.

Participants also condemned recent large-scale terrorist attacks, emphasising the need for intensified efforts to fight against organised transnational crime and terrorism in any forms.ASEAN leaders said they appreciated the UN's contributions to promoting ASEAN connectivity and regional integration in trade, transport, energy and science-technology, and to settling challenges related to environment sustainability and socio-economic inequality.

The parties agreed to intensify co-operation on food, agriculture, forestry, health, disaster risk reduction and management, disease and drug prevention, and climate change response.

During the meetings, regional and international situations attracted the interest of the participating leaders, many of whom expressed their concerns over recent developments in the East Sea.

They emphasised the importance of and their commitment to maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific, ensuring security and freedom of navigation and trade in the region.

They confirmed that disputes should be solved by peaceful means on the basis of international law - especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS). They welcomed commitments from ASEAN and China to effectively and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and work toward the early formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

At the meetings, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said he appreciated the efficient and practical development of relations between ASEAN and its partners. He called for further efforts to intensify collaboration in fields of mutual concern, such as economics, trade, sustainable development, poverty reduction, climate change and disaster response.

He also stressed the need to maintain peace, security and stability in the context of new challenges.

He informed participants of the complicated situation in the East Sea, including large-scale reef island construction and the risk of militarisation; activities which are deeply concerning to the international community, which only serve to increase tensions, erode trust, and threaten peace and stability in the region.

The Vietnamese leader called on partners to contribute more to maintaining peace, stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea, supporting ASEAN's stance of handling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law - particularly the UNCLOS. This also includes not using or threatening to use force and committing to not pursue militarisation in the sea. Using this approach the involved parties can build trust, reduce tensions and prevent conflicts, strictly following the DOC and work towards the formation of the COC, he said.

On the same day, the Declaration on the Launch of Negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was approved in order to accelerate the parties' efforts during the negotiation process.

(Source: Nhandan Online)