Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's impressions during 4 days in Jakarta

TPO - During his attendance at the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related conferences, the Prime Minister proposed many important initiatives to affirm the stature and position of ASEAN. Along with that, the Prime Minister had nearly 20 meetings and contacts with leaders of major countries and international organizations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the airport in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Nhat Bac.

Trusted Bridge

Arriving in Jakarta (Indonesia) on the morning of September 4, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a busy working schedule at the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related conferences.

At the conferences, the Prime Minister put forward many important proposals, orientations and practical initiatives, actively contributing to the efforts to consolidate and promote the process of building the ASEAN Community, regional integration and strengthening relations between ASEAN and its partners.

In the face of fierce competition among major countries, at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that for ASEAN to maintain its central role, the only answer is to promote its own strength and strengthen internal solidarity to affirm its strategic value.

ASEAN+3 Summit, including China, Japan, South Korea.

According to the Prime Minister, ASEAN must truly become a reliable bridge with the capacity to harmonize and balance relationships and interests; firmly pursue the goal of building an open, transparent, and inclusive regional structure, and most importantly, be united in maintaining its principled stance on issues directly related to the region's security and development environment.

The Prime Minister called on all countries to unite internationally and promote multilateralism to solve global and national issues such as epidemics, climate change, and resource depletion; and to jointly resolve disputes and conflicts by peaceful means, based on international law.

At the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) (participating countries include China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Russia and the US), the Prime Minister emphasized the stature and strategic value of the EAS as a place for leaders to dialogue and orient for peace, security, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world; together promote cooperation, resolve conflicts, raise awareness to get closer together.

Also at this conference, he proposed three key groups of solutions for the EAS - which accounts for 54% of the world's population and about 62% of GDP - to promote its role as a focal point for converging trust, spreading benefits and trust... needing to identify peace, stability, and development cooperation as the goal; dialogue and cooperation as the tool.

The Prime Minister affirmed that frank dialogue and sincere cooperation are the foundation and important principles that have created ASEAN's success over the past six decades. He expressed his hope that this spirit will spread to other regions, including Europe, where the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and tensions on the Korean peninsula are having a profound impact.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Many initiatives to make ASEAN the center of growth

During nearly 20 activities at the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related conferences, the Prime Minister also raised many important initiatives to promote economic cooperation.

With partners from China, Japan, and South Korea, the Prime Minister proposed expanding cooperation areas, especially digital transformation, digital economy, e-commerce, Fintech, AI, green finance, green technology, etc. to create more momentum for inclusive growth, towards sustainable development, bringing practical benefits to the people. At the same time, it is necessary to coordinate to ensure food security in each country and the whole region in all situations.

At the ASEAN-China Summit, the Prime Minister proposed close coordination and joining hands to turn the region into a center of economic growth; at the same time, it is necessary to take advantage of geographical proximity, improve the quality of economic, trade and investment cooperation, maintain smooth trade, promote connectivity, ensure production and supply chains, and expand cooperation in developing the digital economy and green economy.

To the ASEAN business community, the Prime Minister emphasized the spirit of solidarity, sharing and mutual support. “No matter where we are, the spirit is that within me there is you, within you there is me so that we can support each other to develop,” the Prime Minister said.

Meanwhile, at the ASEAN-US Summit, the Prime Minister stated that ASEAN and the US are entering a new era of cooperation under the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership, and need to coordinate to develop an effective, substantive and mutually beneficial relationship. The Prime Minister stressed the need to quickly turn economic and trade cooperation into a pillar and science, technology and innovation into a driving force to promote the ASEAN-US comprehensive strategic partnership.

Prime Minister speaks at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

To enhance connectivity between ASEAN and India, the Prime Minister suggested that both sides allocate adequate resources to soon complete the expressway projects connecting India with ASEAN, expanding to Vietnam and spreading throughout ASEAN. The two sides also need to accelerate connectivity and cooperation in digital transformation, facilitating the application of innovative achievements, closely linked to people's lives, opening up opportunities for technology enterprises on both sides.

To make ASEAN a center of economic growth, the Prime Minister highly appreciated the important role of the business community. At the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, the Prime Minister called on businesses to continue to unite and work together with the Government and people to build an independent, self-reliant, and developed ASEAN, making an important contribution to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world; contributing to improving the material and spiritual life in ASEAN.

He also emphasized the spirit of solidarity, sharing and mutual support. “No matter where we are, the spirit is that within me there is you, within you there is me so that we can support each other to develop,” said the Prime Minister.

Meetings to strengthen relations and expand investment cooperation

During his working trip to Jakarta, the Prime Minister had nearly 20 meetings and contacts with leaders of countries and international organizations. Many proposals were put forward by the Prime Minister to contribute to strengthening the relationship between Vietnam and its partners, bringing political-diplomatic, economic-trade-investment, security-defense, cultural-educational, people-to-people exchanges into greater depth, effectiveness and substance.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the meeting.

Having breakfast and working with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the historical reality of the struggle for independence, as well as the protection, development of the country and international integration has affirmed that the continuous consolidation and tightening of cooperative relations between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia is an objective necessity and of strategic importance to all three countries.

The three Prime Ministers agreed to continue to maintain regular bilateral and trilateral exchanges and contacts, and maintain working breakfasts on the occasion of attending international conferences to continuously strengthen solidarity, friendship and cooperation, discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern, and seek solutions to problems arising in the relationship between the three countries.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese affirmed that he attaches great importance to strengthening relations with Vietnam and hopes to welcome General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Australia soon. He also suggested that both sides complete discussions and internal procedures to soon announce the upgrading of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership at the appropriate time.

At the meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam considers relations with China a strategic choice and top priority; Vietnamese ministries and sectors are closely coordinating with relevant Chinese agencies to synchronously and effectively deploy many measures to concretize important common perceptions of the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries, including promoting bilateral high-level exchanges and contacts in the coming time.

Along with that, the Prime Minister also met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US Vice President Kamala Harris, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and many other leaders.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

World leaders also expressed their desire to bring relations with Vietnam to a new height. In a discussion with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said that Japan is actively coordinating with Vietnam to prepare for upcoming high-level visits between the two countries, especially in 2023 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations; expressing his hope that the two sides will closely coordinate to bring Vietnam-Japan relations to a new height.

The partners all highly appreciated the socio-economic development results and management of the Vietnamese Government in recent times. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed to encourage large Indian corporations to increase investment in Vietnam.

Van Kien

Tienphong.vn