Hanoi (VNA) – Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh on October 27 suggested ASEAN Plus Three (APT) countries shouldcontinue promoting their strengths in crisis response, boost multilateralcooperation to effectively control COVID-19, maintain stability and restoresustainable socio-economic development in the region.

Addressingthe 24th APT Summit held virtually on the day, Chinh recommended the nations promotea new approach that is flexible, safe, and adaptable to the new normalcondition. Accordingly, it is necessary to focus on cooperation in capacityimprovement, especially vaccine and treatment drug self-sufficiency.

The PM proposedthat the countries study the establishment of a social welfare network in the region.

He emphasised the APT cooperation needs to make further activecontributions to sustaining the regional peace, security, and stability, while requesting the Chinese, Japanese, andRepublic of Korea partners back ASEAN efforts in building the East Sea into anarea of peace, friendship, and cooperation.

Chinh affirmed that ASEAN is willing totake part in and contribute to the process of dialogue and collaboration forsustainable peace, humanitarian issues, and denuclearisation of the KoreanPeninsula.

At the summit, participating leaderscommended progresses made in the APT cooperation over the past time and agreed toeffectively implement the APT Cooperation Work Plan 2018-2022.

They agreed to prioritise engagements inresponse to COVID-19, easing its socio-economic impacts, boosting a comprehensiverecovery toward sustainable growth, and considering the lifting of travelrestrictions among nations in the region when the conditions are safe.

They were also committed to promoting theliberation of trade and regional economic connectivity, as well as earlyratifying and implementing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea affirmed their continued support for ASEAN initiatives on COVID-19 prevention andcontrol. They said they will continue to provide vaccines and medical equipment for ASEAN member countries.

The three dialogue partners also affirmedto strengthen assistance for and engagement with ASEAN in such new fields asdigital transformation, digital economy, e-commerce, and the implementation of sustainabledevelopment goals.

Concluding the summit, APT leaders passedtheir Statement on Cooperation on Mental Health among Adolescents and YoungChildren./.