A strong message about a resilient, dynamic and resilient ASEAN

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and heads of ASEAN delegations at the opening ceremony - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The 43rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings held from September 4 to 7 in Jakarta, Indonesia were a great success. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet gave an interview to the press about these meetings.

Could you please tell us about the results of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and the conferences between ASEAN and its partners?

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet: After 3 days of urgent work with nearly 20 activities and about 90 documents approved and recorded, the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related conferences were a great success, reaping abundant results.

In the spirit of the theme "ASEAN at the heart of growth", ASEAN leaders and partners discussed many strategic issues facing ASEAN and the region, agreed on directions to strengthen and enhance cooperation, and prepare for stronger development and breakthroughs in the future. In my opinion, these conferences had the following three outstanding results:

Firstly, the mark of ASEAN’s stature has been clearly and consistently affirmed. The stature of ASEAN today is the result of ASEAN’s tireless efforts over the past 56 years, based on solidarity, trust and cooperation. In the current volatile context, these values ​​continue to be promoted, helping ASEAN overcome difficulties and challenges, affirming its role and prestige in the region and the world.

ASEAN’s stature is also reflected in its success in attracting the participation of major countries and many partners in regional cooperation, jointly responding to challenges, for the common interests of peace, stability and development. The presence of nearly 20 partners at these conferences, along with many proposals for cooperation and establishing and upgrading relations (with Japan, Canada, IORA, PIF), reflects the commitment and respect of partners for ASEAN.

Second, efforts to realize ASEAN as the center of growth. This is not only an aspiration but also a mission of ASEAN to ensure a better and more effective environment for cooperation and development for the 680 million people of the region.

To achieve this goal, ASEAN has made changes in its cooperation strategy, both within the bloc and with partners. These are changes in perception, approaches and actions . The major trends of the times, along with the multi-dimensional consequences of complex developments in the region and the world, pose an urgent requirement for all countries, including ASEAN, to innovate, be creative, proactive and quickly adapt to all opportunities and challenges.

Agreements and initiatives such as the development of the ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement, the Carbon Neutrality Strategy, the development of the electric vehicle ecosystem, and the Blue Economy Framework are proactive and creative steps taken by both ASEAN and its partners to shape and lead new cooperation trends in the region.

Third, prepare the initial provisions for the next stage of ASEAN's development. The Summit reviewed and acknowledged the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, which establishes ASEAN's strategic framework for the next 20 years. With orientations spanning the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars, Vision 2045 opens up hopes for ASEAN's transformation, towards a "self-reliant, creative, dynamic and people-centered" ASEAN.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered important speeches at all conferences, bringing to ASEAN and its partners many messages, directions and practical initiatives to consolidate the process of building the Community and enhance relations with partners - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Could you please tell us about the contributions of the Vietnamese delegation at the conferences?

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related conferences. The Prime Minister delivered important speeches at all conferences, bringing to ASEAN and its partners many messages, directions and practical initiatives to consolidate the process of building the Community and enhance relations with partners.

Firstly, to maintain ASEAN's stature and the center of growth, the Prime Minister emphasized that ASEAN countries need to remove policy and institutional bottlenecks and barriers, maintain stability in the intra-bloc supply chain, and strengthen ASEAN's role as the center of the network of free trade agreements through reviewing, upgrading and negotiating new FTAs ​​between ASEAN and its partners.

The Prime Minister stated that ASEAN needs to identify ensuring peace, security and stability in the region as its own responsibility and effort . To do so, ASEAN countries must uphold the spirit of solidarity, independence, self-reliance and self-reliance in both words and actions.

At the conference, the Prime Minister and leaders had in-depth discussions on regional and international issues, reaffirming ASEAN's principled stance.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the Prime Minister emphasized that protecting peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea is both the benefit and responsibility of all countries, proposing to promote the full and effective implementation of the DOC Declaration and strive to achieve a substantive, effective COC in accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS, calling on partners to support ASEAN's stance, and together with ASEAN to ensure a favorable environment for COC negotiations.

Second, closely following the core spirit of "taking people as the center, goal and driving force" of the ASEAN Community building process. The Prime Minister emphasized the orientation of equitable and sustainable development, especially in remote and isolated areas and sub-regions. The Prime Minister announced that Vietnam will host the ASEAN Future Forum on rapid, sustainable and people-centered development, to complement ASEAN's official forums and mechanisms, creating opportunities for broad exchange of ideas and initiatives for regional cooperation, contributing to building a resilient and sustainable ASEAN Community.

Third, to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, the Prime Minister suggested focusing on promoting trade, investment, connecting businesses, stabilizing supply chains, supporting access to each other's markets; hoping that partners will support and create more favorable conditions for goods from Vietnam and ASEAN countries.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet answers questions from the press about the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related conferences, taking place from September 4-7 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Towards a sustainable future, the Prime Minister suggested that ASEAN cooperation mechanisms expand potential areas such as digital transformation, digital economy, e-commerce, energy transition, green finance, green technology, etc. to create more momentum for inclusive growth, towards sustainable development, bringing practical benefits to the people. The Prime Minister also suggested that partners coordinate to promote Mekong cooperation frameworks, effectively contributing to the sustainable development of the Mekong Sub-region.

The Prime Minister emphasized that transforming economic structures, moving towards building a digital economy, developing a green economy, applying a circular economy, and a sharing economy are appropriate and correct orientations, mobilizing resources through public-private partnerships. Accordingly, the Prime Minister suggested that countries need to coordinate closely with each other, promote new thinking, new methods, and new technologies in this profound transformation process.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister had nearly 20 meetings and contacts with leaders of countries and international organizations attending the conference, contributing to strengthening the relationship between Vietnam and its partners, bringing political-diplomatic cooperation, economics-trade-investment, security-defense, culture-education, people-to-people exchange, etc. into greater depth, effectiveness and substance. In addition, the Prime Minister and leaders of countries and international organizations also agreed to promote cooperation in new areas such as digital transformation, energy transformation, green and sustainable economic development.

The partners all highly appreciated the socio-economic development results and the management of the Vietnamese Government in recent times. The partners also increasingly appreciated the dynamic role and positive contributions of Vietnam in ASEAN and the region.

Thank you very much, Deputy Minister.

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/cap-cao-asean-43-thong-diep-manh-me-ve-mot-asean-tam-voc-tu-cuong-va-nang-dong-362912.html