The 17th EAS attracted the participation of leaders of ASEAN countries,their partners - China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand,India, Russia and the US, and the ASEAN Secretary-General. The President of theEuropean Council and the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) were invited to present on cooperation in ensuring food and energysecurity.
Speaking at the event, PM Chinh stressed the need toprioritise promoting economic recovery based on sustainable development, open trade andsmooth supply chains. He called on countries to urgentlyopen their markets and create favourable conditions for the flows of goodsand services, intensify integration, address disrupted supply chains, contributeto the promotion of multilateralism, and free, fair and inclusive trade so asto bring practical benefits to people.
He suggested the EAS partners support ASEAN's efforts to promotedigital and green transformation; develop the circular economy; ensure food, energy and cybersecurity; and develop sub-regions, including the Mekong Sub-region, to contributeto narrowing the development gap and promoting equitable, sustainable andinclusive development.
ASEAN is willing to act as a trusted intermediary inconsultations and dialogues with the EAS partners to seek effective, sustainableand long-term solutions to current security challenges, on the basis ofequality and mutual respect, enhanced understanding, trust, dialogue andcooperation.
Sharing the views on regional and international issues, PM Chinhaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea; called on countries towork together to build the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability, cooperationand sustainable development, and peacefully settle conflicts; and urged the international community and the EAS countries to support efforts to soonachieve an effective, efficient, fair and reasonable Code of Conduct in the EastSea (COC) for all concerned parties, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Vietnamese leader also suggested the EAS partners to back ASEANin implementing the Five-Point Consensus and assist Myanmar in findingsolutions to stabilise the situation.
Noting the progress in the final year of implementing theEAS Action Plan for 2018-2022, they emphasised the urgent need to complete thedrafting of a new one for the 2023-2027 period, with priority given to recovery,and green and sustainable development efforts.
Right after the 17th EAS, the leaders attended the closing ceremony of the 40thand 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, and a ceremony to transfer theASEAN Chairmanship from Cambodia to Indonesia.
On November 13 afternoon, PM Chinh and the Vietnamesedelegation left Phnom Penh, successfully concluding their official visit toCambodia and his attendance at the summits./.