Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (second, left) and leaders of other ASEAN countries at a working lunch with US lawmakers in Washington D.C. (Photo: VNA)The ASEAN leaders were welcomed by Speaker of the US Houseof Representatives Nancy Pelosi at Capitol Hill.
Participants discussed issues related to cooperation intrade, investment, people-to-people exchange, science-technology, renewable energydevelopment, and the response to security challenges in the region and theworld.
Commenting on the significant role of the ASEAN to peace,stability and development in the region, US parliamentarians affirmed theirsupport to the central role of the association, pledging to work for the US’sactive, constructive and responsible engagement in regional cooperation.
They suggested the priority of efforts to deal with COVID-19 pandemic andpromote recovery, encouraging more cooperation proposals, initiatives andprogrammes in areas of common interest.
They expressed hope that the two sides will strengthen collaboration to promotedialogue and cooperation for the effective response and settlement ofchallenges and issues in the region, while lauding efforts to build a Code ofConduct in the East Sea (COC), contributing to maintaining and ensuring anenvironment of peace, security and stability in the region.
Speaking at the event, PM Chinh highly valued the companionshipand support of the US Congress, which has made an important contribution to thedynamic and strong development of the ASEAN-US relationship over the past 45years. On this occasion, the Vietnamese Government leader thanked the USCongress and people for assisting the ASEAN, including Vietnam, in controlling the COVID-19pandemic over the past two years.
PM Chinh underlined that changes in the regional and the global situation arechallenges and also motivation for the ASEAN and the US to join hands with eachother for common development. The ASEAN welcomes the US’s commitments tosupporting the role of the association, and is willing to coordinate with theUS to overcome the pandemic, while keeping the door open wide for US businessesto seek business and investment in the ASEAN for successful recovery and maintenanceof supply chains. The ASEAN expects work powers, including the US, to cooperatewith the association in ensuring peace, stability, aviation and maritime security,safety and freedom in the East Sea, he stated.
The Vietnamese leader proposed the building of regularcontacts through meetings between the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)and the US Congress in order to reinforce trust and maintain sincere dialoguein all fields of cooperation.
It is necessary to establish a cooperative relationship onthe foundation of equality and mutual benefits among legislative bodies, pavingthe way for long-term and comprehensive cooperation among parliaments for theeffective policy coordination in coping with common challenges, he stated.
The PM also stressed the need to give more attention to cooperationprogrammes for inclusive, equal and sustainable development, creatingconditions for future generations to develop together. He expressed his hopethat the US will cooperates with the ASEAN in efforts to narrow the developmentgap in the ASEAN region, especially to bring remote areas like those in theMekong region into the common development flow of countries and the wholeregion.
Following the working lunch with US lawmakers, the same day,PM Chinh and leaders of other ASEAN countries met with representatives of major USbusinesses./.
It is necessary to establish a cooperative relationship onthe foundation of equality and mutual benefits among legislative bodies, pavingthe way for long-term and comprehensive cooperation among parliaments for theeffective policy coordination in coping with common challenges, he stated.
The PM also stressed the need to give more attention to cooperationprogrammes for inclusive, equal and sustainable development, creatingconditions for future generations to develop together. He expressed his hopethat the US will cooperates with the ASEAN in efforts to narrow the developmentgap in the ASEAN region, especially to bring remote areas like those in theMekong region into the common development flow of countries and the wholeregion.
Following the working lunch with US lawmakers, the same day,PM Chinh and leaders of other ASEAN countries met with representatives of major USbusinesses./.
VNA
