PM Nguyen Tan Dung at the summit (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended the ASEAN Summits with India, Japan, and the United Nations, as well as a summit to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ASEAN–Australia partnership in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, on November 12.

In his speech, the PM touched upon the East Sea issue, urging the parties concerned to comply with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea , and promptly formulate the Code of Conduct in the East Sea .

Agreeing with his appeal, participants highlighted the maintenance of regional peace, security and stability while ensuring the security, safety, and freedom of aviation and maritime activities in the East Sea .

At the ASEAN–India Summit, the Vietnamese leader asked India to continue its support for the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community, as well as narrowing the development gap and improving the capacity of ASEAN to cope with global challenges, especially sustainable development in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region.

Both sides should utilise the agreements reached on the ASEAN–India free trade area, and promote the activities of the ASEAN–India Centre and the ASEAN–India Trade and Investment Centre, with a view to increasing bilateral trade to 100 billion USD by 2015.

He also suggested boosting bilateral consultations and dialogues in fields of shared concern, including national defence-security talks.

At the ASEAN–Japan Summit, the PM pushed for further economic, trade and investment cooperation by accelerating the strategic agenda on economic cooperation between ASEAN and Japan; promptly approving two chapters on trade, services and investment as part of the ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership in order to double bilateral trade by 2022; and concluding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations.

Vietnam welcomes Japan’s active contributions to the common goals of peace, stability and development cooperation in the region, including its “active pacifism” initiative. The country backs the adoption of the ASEAN–Japan Declaration on Joint Action to tackle terrorism and trans-national crime at the summit and Japan’s application to host the ASEAN–Japan informal defence ministers’ meeting in the near future, he said.

At the ASEAN–UN Summit, the government leader urged the UN to continue its support for the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community, and the realisation of sustainable development goals, which include poverty reduction, universal education, gender equality, prevention of HIV/AIDS and combatting epidemic diseases.

Addressing ASEAN and Australian leaders at the summit to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the PM suggested both sides allocate more resources to the effective implementation of previous commitments, including the 2015-2019 Action Plan.

ASEAN was keen to receive more support from Australia to implement the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, he noted.

Source: vietnam+