The Prime Minister expects the EAS to further promote its role and strategic value as a leading forum for dialogue on strategic issues affecting peace, security and development in the region.
On October 11 - the last working day of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh led a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend the 19th East Asia Summit (EAS) and the 14th ASEAN-United Nations Summit.
At the 19th East Asia Summit, EAS leaders affirmed their commitment to continue to strengthen and enhance the role of the EAS as a forum for leaders to dialogue and cooperate on strategic, political and economic issues of mutual concern and interest to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region, in accordance with the basic goals, principles and modalities of the EAS.
The leaders also highlighted the great potential and strengths of EAS with the convergence of many of the world's leading and dynamically developing economies, accounting for more than half of the total population and nearly two-thirds of the global gross domestic product (GDP). The trade turnover between ASEAN and EAS Partners reached 1,700 billion USD, and foreign direct investment (FDI) flows from EAS Partners to ASEAN reached 124.6 billion USD in 2023.
Deeply aware of that, the countries agreed to closely coordinate to promote the effective implementation of the EAS Action Plan for the 2024-2028 period, as well as to implement the results of the EAS Summits, prioritizing areas of common interest and urgency such as climate change response, disaster management, energy transition, resilient supply chains, maritime cooperation, health, education and training, while exploiting new growth drivers such as innovation, digital transformation, green economy, and effectively implementing free trade agreements, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
ASEAN and EAS Partners also agreed to further promote the role and strategic value of EAS, adapt more effectively to rapid changes, with intertwined challenges and opportunities. The countries affirmed their support for ASEAN's central role in the regional architecture that upholds international law, while emphasizing the important role of EAS in promoting multilateralism and building a rules-based international order.
Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expected the EAS to further promote its role and strategic value as a leading forum for dialogue on strategic issues affecting peace, security and development in the region, in order to effectively adapt to changes in the current regional and global strategic environment, promoting closer connectivity and stronger self-reliance.
In order for EAS to meet that expectation, the Prime Minister emphasized that ASEAN and EAS Partners need to make efforts to promote dialogue, cooperation and build strategic trust, increase common points, minimize disagreements, respect differences, look to the future, act constructively, responsibly, join hands to respond to common challenges, and jointly shape an open, inclusive, transparent regional structure that upholds international law with ASEAN playing a central role, facilitating economic development, avoiding conflicts, for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world, bringing prosperity and happiness to all people, leaving no one behind. At the same time, he asked Partners to continue supporting ASEAN's central role through words and practical actions.
Appreciating the EAS with its great potential and strengths, the Prime Minister expected the EAS to take the lead in strongly promoting new growth drivers, giving priority to cooperation in science and technology development, innovation, digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, sharing economy, knowledge economy as well as emerging industries and fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor chips, cloud computing, Internet of Things, network security... At the same time, the EAS needs to take the lead in taking action to effectively respond to global challenges related to the entire population such as population aging, resource depletion, epidemics, climate change, natural disasters... especially in the context of recent extreme climate phenomena such as Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia or Typhoons Helene and Milton in the US.
Having in-depth discussions on international and regional issues such as the East Sea, the Middle East, Myanmar, the Korean Peninsula, the conflict in Ukraine, etc., the countries emphasized the importance of peace, security, and stability in the region as a prerequisite, supporting and facilitating efforts to promote inclusive growth, self-reliant development, prosperity and sustainability at present. The partners affirmed their support for ASEAN's efforts, balanced and objective approach and common stance on these issues.
At the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared his views on issues of mutual concern, emphasizing the need to maintain peace, stability, cooperation and harmonious development of interests among relevant parties, ensuring security and safety of aviation and navigation in the East Sea, calling on all parties to exercise restraint, limit disagreements, exploit common points, promote cooperation, sincere, trustworthy, effective dialogue, based on the law, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), creating an environment to promote the building of a substantive, effective, and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
At the 14th ASEAN-UN Summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highly appreciated the ASEAN-UN Comprehensive Partnership which is developing stronger than ever, now truly becoming a strategic partnership, wishing to work with ASEAN to promote cooperation priorities in four areas including connectivity, finance, climate, and peace assurance, emphasizing the role of ASEAN as a connector, builder and messenger of peace.
ASEAN leaders highly appreciated the results of the United Nations Future Summit last September, contributing to promoting multilateralism and international cooperation on urgent issues such as climate change, food security, response to challenges and crises, for the goal of sustainable development.
ASEAN will continue to promote cooperation with the United Nations in responding to non-traditional security challenges, countering terrorism and transnational crime, wildlife trafficking, women-peace and security agenda, ensuring food security, sustainable energy transition, healthcare, prevention of infectious diseases, agriculture, social welfare, poverty eradication, high-quality education, sustainable tourism development, disaster management, environmental protection, climate change response, etc. as well as joint efforts to address regional and global issues, promoting peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development.
Emphasizing the importance of the ASEAN-UN Comprehensive Partnership and the results of the implementation of the 2021-2025 Action Plan with a 90% implementation rate, ASEAN and the UN agreed to continue to strengthen and deepen relations and cooperation, support ASEAN's efforts to build the Community, contribute to effectively addressing global and regional challenges, for peace, prosperity and sustainable development. The two sides agreed to develop an Action Plan for the 2026-2030 period, as well as coordinate to effectively implement the Roadmap for Mutual Support to Link the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated the UN Secretary-General on successfully organizing a series of events during the High-level Week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, with the focus being the Future Summit, which has historical significance, contributing to enhancing international cooperation and consolidating multilateralism to promote the implementation of common goals, especially the Sustainable Development Goals.
In the context of current issues happening in the world that have global, national and comprehensive impacts, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to promote multilateralism, call for international solidarity, especially the central and important role and position of the United Nations and the UN Secretary-General himself.
Building on the solid foundation that ASEAN and the United Nations have built over the past decades, the Prime Minister suggested that the two sides should enhance coordination in responding to global challenges and actively contribute to green and sustainable development. ASEAN and the United Nations need to coordinate closely, ensuring connectivity and mutual support in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the “Documents for the Future” recently adopted at the Future Summit.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister thanked the United Nations for promptly supporting ASEAN countries to overcome the severe damage caused by Typhoon Yagi, and hoped that the United Nations would continue to coordinate and support ASEAN, including the Mekong countries, to enhance resilience to natural disasters and proactively manage and effectively respond to climate change, promoting equitable energy transition.
The Prime Minister emphasized that on the basis of shared interests and values in promoting multilateralism and respecting international law, ASEAN and the United Nations need to continue to coordinate to actively and effectively contribute to the common effort to ensure a peaceful, secure and stable environment in the world and Southeast Asia.
ASEAN is ready to closely coordinate with the United Nations to continue promoting peacekeeping, enhancing dialogue, cooperation, building trust, and forming standards of conduct among countries in the spirit of the rule of law. Accordingly, we hope that the United Nations will pay more attention and make more active contributions to maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, supporting ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea, resolving disputes by peaceful means, and making efforts to soon reach a substantive and effective COC in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS, contributing to building the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.
Appreciating and supporting the efforts, initiatives and contributions of the United Nations and the UN Secretary-General himself to resolve conflicts and hotspots, including the current conflicts in the Middle East, the Prime Minister expressed concern about criticism, lack of impartiality, and actions that hinder and make it difficult for the UN Secretary-General to carry out his responsibilities, especially efforts to mediate, provide humanitarian relief and promote dialogue between relevant parties towards long-term, sustainable solutions.
The Prime Minister expressed his high agreement with the calls of countries, the United Nations and the UN Secretary-General himself that relevant parties need to end the violence and cease fire immediately; ensure the provision of urgent humanitarian aid to the people; release hostages and promote peace negotiations on the basis of the "two-state solution," in accordance with international law, relevant resolutions of the United Nations, meeting the legitimate interests of relevant parties and especially innocent people./.
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