Partners pledge to support ASEAN's central role, ready for comprehensive, substantive and sustainable cooperation

On the morning of July 13, continuing the working program within the framework of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-56), Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attended the ASEAN+1 Foreign Ministers' Meetings with partners New Zealand, India, Russia, Australia and China.

AMM-56: Các đối tác cam kết ủng hộ vai trò trung tâm của ASEAN, sẵn sàng hợp tác toàn diện, thực chất và bền vững

At AMM-56, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attended the ASEAN+1 Foreign Ministers' Meetings with partners New Zealand, India, Russia, Australia and China. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Reviewing cooperation over the past time, ASEAN Foreign Ministers and partners welcomed the progress in implementing the Action Plans, highly appreciated the progress in cooperation aspects, and actively contributed to promoting inclusive recovery and sustainable growth.

The partners affirmed their importance to relations with ASEAN, respect and support ASEAN's central role, support ASEAN in building the Community, and work with ASEAN to promote dialogue, cooperation and respond to common challenges, contributing more effectively to peace, security, stability, and sustainable development.

With New Zealand , the Ministers welcomed the conclusion of negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, deepening economic and trade cooperation.

ASEAN highly appreciated New Zealand's support in efforts to respond to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture and enhance the capacity of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance.

The conference adopted the Joint Declaration on ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Overview of the ASEAN-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

With India , the two sides adopted the Annex to the Action Plan to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established at the end of 2022, emphasizing the priority of enhancing maritime cooperation, connectivity, digital economy, cyber security, health, environment, and transnational crime prevention...

ASEAN requested India to continue to pay attention to narrowing the development gap and cooperation in sub-regional development.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar attended the Conference. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

The ASEAN-Russia Conference unanimously adopted a Joint Statement commemorating the 5th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership (2018-2023), pledging to promote and deepen practical cooperation, especially in areas where Russia has strengths and ASEAN has needs.

The countries welcomed the progress of bilateral cooperation, especially in coordinating responses to non-traditional security challenges, and proposed implementing many initiatives within the framework of the "Year of Science and Technology Cooperation" in 2022.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Russian Foreign Minister attend the ASEAN-Russia Conference (Photo: Tuan Anh)

The ASEAN-Australia Summit appreciated the positive progress in implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, especially the Australia Initiative for the Future of ASEAN with a contribution of 204 million Australian dollars.

ASEAN appreciates Australia's commitments to promoting two-way trade and investment, and looks forward to Australia continuing to expand market access and business connectivity.

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation towards sustainable development and support the ASEAN-Australia High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy Transition co-chaired by Laos, Australia and Vietnam later this year in Vietnam.

At the ASEAN-China Summit , countries welcomed progress in negotiations to upgrade the Free Trade Agreement, reflecting their commitment to building an inclusive, comprehensive, modern and rules-based economic environment.

The Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress in the negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea with the conclusion of the second reading and the adoption of the Guidelines for the early conclusion of a substantive and effective COC.

The two sides agreed to designate 2024 as the Year of ASEAN-China People-to-People Exchanges, promoting friendship, understanding and cultural connection among people of the two countries.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Wang Yi attend the ASEAN-China Summit. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Speaking at the conferences, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son highly appreciated the extensive progress in cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, and asked the partners to support ASEAN's central role in practice, continue to support ASEAN in building the Community, and jointly contribute to peace, security and development in the region.

The Minister proposed orientations to promote cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, especially in implementing Free Trade Agreements, increasing investment, tourism, human resource development, infrastructure connectivity, sub-regional cooperation, as well as expanding priority cooperation in climate change response, energy security, food security, green growth, etc.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son leads the Vietnamese delegation to the ASEAN-Russia Conference. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Discussing the international and regional situation at the Conferences, ASEAN countries and Partners all emphasized the importance of maintaining and ensuring peace, security and stability in the region, creating favorable conditions to promote current efforts for inclusive growth and sustainable development, which are the common interests and responsibilities of all countries.

Sharing the opinions of the countries, Minister Bui Thanh Son asked the partners to support ASEAN's stance and joint efforts on the East Sea and other international and regional issues; called on the partners to join hands with ASEAN to strengthen dialogue, build trust, and resolve disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law.

The Minister emphasized the importance of the DOC Declaration and the direction towards building a substantive and effective COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS Convention, for a peaceful and cooperative East Sea.

* On the afternoon of July 13, ASEAN Foreign Ministers will continue to attend the ASEAN+1 Conference with Japan, South Korea, the European Union, the UK, Canada and the ASEAN+3 Conference (with China, Japan and South Korea) with their partners.

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