Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, head of the Vietnamese permanent mission to ASEAN (Photo: VNA)Jakarta (VNA) – Vietnam’s permanentmission to ASEAN and the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) areworking hard to complete documents to submit to the 37th ASEANSummit and related meetings, scheduled for November 12-15.
Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, head of the Vietnamesepermanent mission, said in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency’sreporters in Jakarta that more than 10 documents need to be completed,including five prioritised ones - the declaration marking the 15th anniversary of the East Asia Summit (EAS), the statement on sustainablemaritime cooperation, and the joint statement of the ASEAN 3 Summit onenhancing financial and economic capacity in response to the existingchallenges.
“We are confident that there will be quality anduseful documents to be submitted to leaders for approval, in order to affirmthat ASEAN is a cohesive and responsive community in the present context, andASEAN continues to expand its cooperation with all partners in coping withCOVID-19 while making efforts in restoring the economy and social activities,”he stressed.
According to the ambassador, the mission has alsopartnered with the CPR to complete the declaration on building an ASEAN travelcorridor to facilitate the travelling of ASEAN citizens and businesses in linewith medical regulations and soon resume economic and trade activities, thuscreating an important foundation for regional economic recovery in the years tocome.
The highlight of the 37th ASEAN Summitwould be the ratification of many documents prepared by ASEAN member countriesand partners over the past year in the face of the pandemic, he said.
These documents are expected to create a foundationfor cooperation between the bloc and its partners so as to deal with COVID-19consequences and improve the capacity to cope with pandemics in the future,along with boosting collaboration to step up economic recovery and connectivityin trade, investment and travelling of regional citizens and partner countries.
Joint efforts have been made to accomplish actionplans between the bloc and its partners - China, the US, the Republic of Korea,New Zealand, India and the United Nations - for the 2021-2025 period, Binh said.
Under the leadership of Vietnam in its capacity asASEAN Chair 2020, ASEAN member countries reviewed the ASEAN Community Blueprintwith three pillars, he said.
The Vietnamese mission and the CPR have also workedon a report assessing the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity(MPAC), contributing to promoting regional connectivity in trade, supply andregional economic recovery.
Another report will be submitted to senior leaders forapproval is the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) for 2021-2025, which is aimedat narrowing the gap and enhancing competitiveness of the entire region.
Over the past time, the mission has put forthscenarios, plans and programmes of cooperation with all partners to overcomethe pandemic and maintain regional economic connectivity within the region andwith ASEAN partners.
Regarding the Regional Comprehensive EconomicCooperation (RCEP) agreement, Binh said the signing of the deal is the biggestexpectation in the year.
Through the agreement, ASEAN member countries andparticipating partners want to affirm the importance of regional cooperationand connectivity, particularly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Binh added./.
VNA
