Delegates to the seventh Mekong-RoK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Source: english.yonhapnews.co.kr)Seoul (VNA) –Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc has affirmed that Vietnamattaches importance to cooperation between Mekong countries and the Republic ofKorea (RoK) while addressing the seventh Mekong-RoK Foreign Ministers’ Meetingin the RoK.
He also madeproposals to raise the efficiency of cooperation and boost development in theMekong region.
It is necessary todevelop the transport network, especially cross-border economic corridors, inorder to turn the Mekong region into a bridge between the Pacific and theIndian Ocean, and a gateway to major markets in Asia, Ngoc said.
The DeputyMinister called for help for Mekong countries to develop sustainable, smartagriculture, and become an indispensable link in the regional and global valuechain.
Mekong countriesshould be assisted to ensure the balance between economic development andenvironmental protection, and manage water resources sustainably, he said.
He underlined theneed to improve labour quality and research capacity for industrialisation,while making use of opportunities generated by the fourth industrialrevolution.
On this occasion,Ngoc reiterated Vietnam’s stance on issues regarding the East Sea, the KoreanPeninsula and non-traditional security challenges.
The seventhMekong-RoK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which took place in Busan city, the RoK,on September 1, was chaired by Foreign Ministers of the RoK and Laos, with theparticipation of representatives from Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
At the meeting,delegates reviewed the Mekong-RoK Action Plan during 2014-2017 and discussedcooperation plans for the next four years.
They agreed towork together in building modern, smart and ecologically-balancedinfrastructure, increasing connectivity between the Mekong countries throughroads, railways, seaports, airports, and exclusive economic zone andcross-border economic corridor projects.
The countries willalso join hands in improving capacity to apply information and communication technologyin transport infrastructure construction, water resources management, climatechange response and e-commerce, contributing to narrowing technological gaps inASEAN.
They also decidedto promote green growth through projects on climate change combat, forestation,bio-diversity protection and gas emission impact mitigation.
At the same time,the countries will step up cooperation in the sustainable use of Mekong Riverwater resources and other natural resources, and coordinate with the MekongRiver Commission and other international organisations in this regard.
They will intensifycollaboration in agriculture and rural development via the exchange ofexperience and technologies, help Mekong countries integrate into the globalagricultural value chain, and implement more training programmes for labourers.
At the end of themeeting, the ministers adopted a statement and the Mekong-RoK Action Plan for2017-2020, and agreed to hold the eighth meeting on the sidelines of the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore in 2018.
In the co-chairstatement, the ministers reiterated the significance of maintaining peace,security, stability, navigation and aviation safety and freedom in the East Seain line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law ofthe Sea.
They said apeaceful and stable regional environment is essential for common prosperity inMekong countries and the RoK.
They stressed theneed to enhance mutual trust, exercise self-restraint and avoid actions thatcan complicate the situation, and handle disputes peacefully.
The same day, theASEAN Culture House, a symbol of cultural links between ASEAN and the RoK, wasinaugurated in Busan.-VNA
He also madeproposals to raise the efficiency of cooperation and boost development in theMekong region.
It is necessary todevelop the transport network, especially cross-border economic corridors, inorder to turn the Mekong region into a bridge between the Pacific and theIndian Ocean, and a gateway to major markets in Asia, Ngoc said.
The DeputyMinister called for help for Mekong countries to develop sustainable, smartagriculture, and become an indispensable link in the regional and global valuechain.
Mekong countriesshould be assisted to ensure the balance between economic development andenvironmental protection, and manage water resources sustainably, he said.
He underlined theneed to improve labour quality and research capacity for industrialisation,while making use of opportunities generated by the fourth industrialrevolution.
On this occasion,Ngoc reiterated Vietnam’s stance on issues regarding the East Sea, the KoreanPeninsula and non-traditional security challenges.
The seventhMekong-RoK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which took place in Busan city, the RoK,on September 1, was chaired by Foreign Ministers of the RoK and Laos, with theparticipation of representatives from Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
At the meeting,delegates reviewed the Mekong-RoK Action Plan during 2014-2017 and discussedcooperation plans for the next four years.
They agreed towork together in building modern, smart and ecologically-balancedinfrastructure, increasing connectivity between the Mekong countries throughroads, railways, seaports, airports, and exclusive economic zone andcross-border economic corridor projects.
The countries willalso join hands in improving capacity to apply information and communication technologyin transport infrastructure construction, water resources management, climatechange response and e-commerce, contributing to narrowing technological gaps inASEAN.
They also decidedto promote green growth through projects on climate change combat, forestation,bio-diversity protection and gas emission impact mitigation.
At the same time,the countries will step up cooperation in the sustainable use of Mekong Riverwater resources and other natural resources, and coordinate with the MekongRiver Commission and other international organisations in this regard.
They will intensifycollaboration in agriculture and rural development via the exchange ofexperience and technologies, help Mekong countries integrate into the globalagricultural value chain, and implement more training programmes for labourers.
At the end of themeeting, the ministers adopted a statement and the Mekong-RoK Action Plan for2017-2020, and agreed to hold the eighth meeting on the sidelines of the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore in 2018.
In the co-chairstatement, the ministers reiterated the significance of maintaining peace,security, stability, navigation and aviation safety and freedom in the East Seain line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law ofthe Sea.
They said apeaceful and stable regional environment is essential for common prosperity inMekong countries and the RoK.
They stressed theneed to enhance mutual trust, exercise self-restraint and avoid actions thatcan complicate the situation, and handle disputes peacefully.
The same day, theASEAN Culture House, a symbol of cultural links between ASEAN and the RoK, wasinaugurated in Busan.-VNA
VNA
