PM Phuc made the statement at theASEAN 3 Summit with China, Japan and theRepublic of Korea, the ASEAN-Canada 40th Anniversary Commemorative Summitand the ASEAN-EU 40th Anniversary Commemorative Summit in Manila,the Philippines, on November 14.
At the ASEAN 3 Summit, theVietnamese PM suggested that the ASEAN 3 mechanism should gear towards regionaleconomic growth, especially in trade, finance, infrastructure, narrowing developmentgap, connecting and improving micro-,small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)’ capacity.
He urged member states of theASEAN 3 to boost cooperation in coping with emerging security challenges,including transnational crime, climate change, disaster and epidemics management.
Participating leaders pledged tocontinue strengthening collaboration in politics, economy, finance,socio-culture, people-to-people exchanges, business connectivity, and towardsbuilding the East Asia Community.
Chinese, Japanese and RoK leadersaffirmed their commitments to regional cooperation, trade liberalisation,digital economic development and infrastructure connectivity. They also wishedto soon conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP).
The summit adopted the ManilaDeclaration on the 20th Anniversary of ASEAN 3 Cooperation, the ASEAN 3Leaders’ Statement on Food Security Cooperation and took note of the Report onthe implementation of the Action Plan on ASEAN 3 Cooperation and the ActionPlan on ASEAN 3 Economic Cooperation adopted by the ASEAN 3 Ministerial Meetingin August 2017.
Addressing the ASEAN-Canada 40th Anniversary Commemorative Summit, PM Phuc highlighted three priority areas ofcoordination, namely improving MSMEs’ capacity; enhancing connectivity,including human connectivity; and coping with challenges regarding climatechange, terrorism, extreme violence and maritime security.
He suggested Canada assists ASEANin improving its capacity of ensuring maritime security, training law specialistsand shares its experience in setting disputes at sea in line with internationallaw.
The Canadian side vowed to workclosely with ASEAN to effectively realise the 2016-2020 Action Plan andstrengthen the bloc’s central role in evolving regional architecture viaASEAN-led mechanisms.
On the occasion, ASEAN leadersalso took note of Canada’s proposal to partake in the 12th East AsiaSummit (EAS 12) and the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM+) andconsider the possibility of signing an ASEAN-Canada trade agreement in thefuture.
In his speech delivered at theASEAN-EU 40th Anniversary Commemorative Summit, PM Phuc said theASEAN and EU should coordinate closely to implement economic-trade cooperationprogrammes, and cope with natural disasters as well as traditional andnon-traditional security challenges.
On regional and global issues of mutualconcern, he affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance on the denuclearisation on theKorean Peninsula as well as the ASEAN’s viewpoint on the East Sea issue, particularlyprinciples mentioned in the Joint Communiqué of the 50th ASEANMinisterial Meeting in August 2017.
Vietnam is ready to join other ASEANmember states to actively contribute to peace, stability and development in theregion, PM Phuc stressed.
In the afternoon of November 14, ASEAN leadersattended EAS 12 with eight partner countries including China, Japan, the RoK,India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US, the 15th ASEAN-India Summit, signed the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotionof the Rights of Migrant Workers, attended the closing ceremony of the 31st ASEAN Summit and witnessed the transfer of ASEAN Chairmanship to Singapore.-VNA