Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (fifth, left) and other ASEAN officials at the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The recent 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-51)and other related meetings hosted by Singapore have secured many importantoutcomes, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung told the media recently.
The association achieved significantresults in building a self-reliant and innovative bloc, he said, noting membercountries highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation in economy anddevelopment among themselves and with partners.
They will focus on fostering intra-bloc connectivity,boosting sustainable development and increasing innovation to make full use oftechnology advances from the fourth industrial revolution.
ASEAN members showed solidarity to Laosafter the devastating hydropower dam collapse through the ASEAN CoordinatingCentre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.
The association upheld its stance on issuesrelated to peace and stability in the region such as the East Sea issue, saidDung, adding that all member countries agreed on basic principles on thematter, while sharing viewpoints on issues on the site as well as negotiationsfor a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
ASEAN has flexibly admitted proposals ofits partners like India, Australia and the Republic of Korea withoutsignificantly affecting internal regulations.
Secondly, ASEAN and its partners reachedconsensus on supporting and promoting multilateralisation and maintainingeconomic links as well as trade and investment facilitation amidst increasing protectionism.
Most partners shared ASEAN’s idea on thesignificance of keeping order in line with international law and the support tomultilateral mechanisms, including the World Trade Organisation. They affirmedtheir close coordination in finalising the negotiation for a RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership and the ratification of the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as efforts tobalance benefits of all parties.
Deputy FM Dung noted that some partnersshowed interest in new free trade agreements such as one with Canada, and resumingnegotiations for deals with difficulties, such as with the EU.
Thirdly, ASEAN agreed on the need tobuild an active approach to cooperation initiatives and proposals in the region,such as the Indian Ocean-Pacific, the Belt and Road and the Partnership forQuality Infrastructure initiatives.
Some partners expressed hope that theASEAN play the central role in the Indian Ocean- Pacific strategy, while Chinasuggested close connection between the Belt and Road Initiative and the MasterPlan for ASEAN Connectivity until 2025, said Deputy FM Dung.
Dung said the ministers were busy with variousmultilateral and bilateral activities, and important discussions.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended more than 30 activities of the AMM-51and 15 bilateral meetings with ASEAN countries and partners during the event.
Despite several differences inviewpoints, the AMM-51 and related meetings’ atmosphere was positive, said Dung,adding that ASEAN and partners’ efforts to ease the consequences of disastersin Laos, Indonesia and Myanmar showed that solidarity, cooperation and mutual supportare still key trends.
Regarding the role of Vietnam in the AMM-51and related meetings, Deputy FM Dung said Vietnam supported priorities proposedby Singapore.
In his speeches at the meetings, DeputyPM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh clarified Vietnam’s stance on variousissues.
Singapore’s suggestion to build aself-reliant and innovative ASEAN is suitable to Vietnam’s priorities regardingASEAN, said Dung, highlighting that Vietnam has engaged in the ASEAN Network ofSmart Cities, while working closely with other ASEAN countries to promoteregional connectivity and the application of Industry 4.0 advances.
Deputy PM and FM Minh’s ideas onregional and international issues, including the East Sea matters, were similarto those of many ASEAN countries and partners.
Vietnam’s role as the coordinator forthe ASEAN-India relationship in the past three years was successful and hailedby both sides. On the occasion, Vietnam also took responsibility as thecoordinator for ASEAN-Japan relations in 2018-2021, said Dung.-VNA
VNA
