PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the ASEAN Plus One Summits with the U.S. and India and the East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos, on September 8, within the framework of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings.
Upholding law-abiding
Addressing the summits, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his pleasure at the strong and extensive development of ASEAN’s relations with the partners. He stressed that cooperation between the bloc and the partner countries is crucial to peace, security, stability and development in the region.
To bring into play the role of Viet Nam – the coordinator of ASEAN-India relations between 2015 and 2018, he asked both sides to enhance cooperation to tap into their potential and political commitments; should work with ASEAN to bring into play the role of international institutions, urge for adherence to international law, prevent conflicts, build trust, and peacefully resolve disputes; take concrete measures to promote trade, investment and infrastructure and digital connectivity, thereby tightening connections between ASEAN and India.
The PM suggested ASEAN and the U.S. boost cooperation in economics, investment, trade, environmental protection, science-technology, education-training, startup support, and climate change response. They should make more joint efforts to deal with non-traditional security challenges such as terrorism and infectious epidemics.
He suggested the U.S. continue implementing the Lower Mekong Initiative and helping the Mekong countries improve their capacity of climate change adaptation and water resources management and sustainable use.
At the EAS, PM Phuc stressed the necessity to build and strengthen trust among countries, promote the role of multilateral institutions in the region, and build a foundation for the region’s order so as to ensure peace, stability, cooperation and development.
The compliance with international law must be ensured while a code of conduct for countries should be built. The regional countries need to avoid any unilateral actions, imposition, intimidation, or using force, he noted.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc assured that Viet Nam and other ASEAN countries will strive to foster the bloc’s central role in building trust, keeping peace, and promoting the partners’ efforts towards the goals in line with common interests.
The EAS and other forums held by ASEAN have created a relatively firm foundation for shaping a future regional architecture, he said, underscoring the necessity to improve the EAS’s efficiency and consider marine cooperation as a new prioritized area.
Building practical trust
The PM assessed that the Asia-Pacific Region has witnessed fast and complicated developments with both challenges and advantages.
The Vietnamese Government chief voiced concerns about the complex happenings in the East Sea and called on all parties to show goodwill and determination to enter a new phase of transforming the East Sea into a region of peace, stability, cooperation and development.
Al parties must exercise self-restraint, not use or threaten to use force, handle disputes by peaceful measures, on the basis of international law, including the UNCLOS, and fully respect diplomatic and legal processes, the PM said.
He called on all parties to show goodwill and determination to enter a new phase of transforming the East Sea into a region of peace, stability, cooperation and development.
It is important that all parties must exercise self-restraint, not use or threaten to use force, handle disputes by peaceful measures, on the basis of international law, including the UNCLOS, and fully respect diplomatic and legal processes, the PM stressed.
