At the event (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the 21st ASEAN – Republic of Korea Summit in Hanoi on November 12.
Addressing the opening ceremony, PM Phuc said as leading economic partners ofeach other, ASEAN and the RoK should continue enhancing coordination,especially adopting frameworks led by ASEAN, contributing to peace, stabilityand development in the region.
RoK President Moon Jae-in vowed to join hands with ASEAN to overcome challenges caused by COVID-19. Healso announced a contribution of 1 million USD to ASEAN COVID-19 response fund anda package of medical supplies worth 5 million USD to the bloc.
He expressed his support for the regional comprehensiverecovery framework and efforts to resume trade and investment cooperation viafacilitating travelling between both sides.
Moon pledged to accelerate the implementationof the New Southern Policy and further deepen cooperation with the bloc.
On orientations to future cooperation, both sidesagreed to work closely together to drive back the pandemic, ensure the publicaccess to COVID-19 vaccine, improve the capacity of urgent public health system.
They promised to realise common initiatives onpromoting ASEAN-RoK economic connectivity in response to COVID-19 pandemic,step up cooperation in digital economy, innovation, high-quality humanresources development, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, andstart-ups, thus creating a strong driving force for their economies.
ASEAN proposed the RoK continue supporting the bloc’s pandemicprevention and control initiatives, including regional reserve of medicalsupplies and promoting recovery via the ASEAN comprehensive recovery frameworkrecently announced at the 37th ASEAN Summit.
The two sides consented to bolster even development cooperation,support efforts to narrow development gap, sub-regional developmentcoordination, improve the capacity of responding to emerging challenges such asclimate change, disaster management, environment protection, sustainable forestprotection and plastic waste reduction.
On regional and global issues of shared concern, leadershighlighted the importance of ensuring peace, security, stability, maritime andaviation freedom in the region, including the East Sea; as well as thesettlement of disputes by peaceful means in line with international law and the1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
PM Phuc also took the occasion to call for further increasingcooperation in COVID-19 research and production, stably maintain trade andinvestment, and step up green and sustainable development.
With the official upgrade of Mekong – RoK sub-regionalcooperation to a summit level last year, the Vietnamese PM expected the RoK tocontinue supporting efforts to promote sub-regional sustainable development,including the Mekong Sub-region, and incorporate sub-regional developmentefforts into ASEAN Community’s common development strategy.
He also underlined the importance of serious implementation ofthe UN Security Council’s related resolutions and agreements among parties concerned for aKorean peninsula of peace, stability and denuclearisation.
In order to maintain peace, security and stability in the EastSea, the PM urged parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, avoid actionsthat could further complicate the situation and increase tension, erode trustand cause instability. Every dispute and difference should be settledpeacefully in line with international law, the 1982 UNCLOS and legal frameworkon activities at sea.
Parties need to seriously and fully comply with the Declarationon the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), build a practical andeffective Code of Conduct in the East in accordance with international law andthe 1982 UNCLOS, he said.
As a coordinator of ASEAN-RoK relations for the 2021-2024period, Vietnam will work closely with the RoK and ASEAN member states touphold existing foundations, as well as continue efforts of Brunei – the existingcoordinator to develop bilateral strategic partnership for the sake of peace,stability, friendship and cooperation in the region, he said./.
