The eighth ASEAN-US Summit takes place virtually on November 14 as part of the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – ASEAN wishes to enhance effective cooperation and close coordinationwith the international community and partners, including the US, in order topromptly and effectively cope with emerging challenges, including the COVID-19,thus maintaining a stable environment for countries to develop sustainably.
The remarks were madeby Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc while addressing the eighth ASEAN-US Summitwhich was held virtually in Hanoi on November 14.
ASEAN countries andthe US have maintained their partnership on the basis of mutual trust, respectand understanding for the common purpose of promoting stability, developmentand cooperation for mutual benefit.
As a strategicpartner of ASEAN since 2015, the US has responsibly joined and contributed toefforts to consolidate trust and dialogue in the region through ASEAN-hostedframeworks.
It is an urgent needfor countries to step up cooperation and coordination between countries amidstthe outbreak of the COVID-19 as well as traditional and non-traditionalchallenges, he said.
“We appreciate the USas one of the partners that have actively promoted many result-orientedcooperation initiatives to support ASEAN countries and the Southeast Asianregion to improve their capacity for coping with the pandemic.”
US National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien commended Vietnam for its ASEAN Chairmanship2020 amidst a range of challenges and thanked the country’s leadership inadvancing the strategic partnership between ASEAN and the US.
The ASEAN-USstrategic partnership has become more important as they work together to combatthe coronavirus, he said, appreciating ASEAN partners’ efforts to keep akey supply chain open.
Over the past fouryears, cooperation in science, health, education, livelihood and securitybetween the sides has grown dramatically, especially in the sphere of security,he said.
The US has investedeconomic growth in Southeast Asia, O’Brien said, adding that in 2019, trade between the grouping and the US reached over354 billion USD.
The ASEAN-US Summitis of significance, demonstrating the importance both sides have attached tothe ASEAN-US strategic partnership.
The US-ASEAN dialogue ties began in 1977 and the two sides established an enhanced partnership in 2005.The US joined the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in July 2009.
The US proposed andorganised the first foreign ministers’ meeting with four lower Mekong countries(Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) in July 2009.
The US was also oneof the first dialogue countries to officially establish a diplomatic mission inASEAN and send its resident ambassador to the ten-member grouping in 2010.
The ASEAN-US waselevated to a new height as the two sides officially set up a strategicpartnership at the third ASEAN-US Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November2015.
On November 13, theWhite House said in a statement that the US ispleased to mark the 5th anniversary of the US-ASEAN strategic partnership./.
