20th East Asia Forum opens in Khanh Hoa
Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The 20th East Asia
Forum (EAF-20) opened in Nha Trang city, the south central province of Khanh
Hoa on December 19.
Speaking at the event, acting head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam Ambassador
Vu Ho highlighted the significance of the EAF-20 on the occasion of the 25th founding anniversary of ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea).
He said cooperation process between ASEAN and three Northeast
Asian countries, which started
in 1997, has become one of the most comprehensive, dynamic and effective
cooperation frameworks of the bloc, making positive contributions to peace,
security and development in East Asia.
Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Le
Huu Hoang wished that via the event, delegates would understand more about the
province’s strengths and potential to connect it with localities in ASEAN, China,
Japan and the RoK, thus achieving inclusive, even and sustainable development
as the theme of the forum.
Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the RoK SOM Choi Young-sam,
for his part, vowed to continue working closely with ASEAN, China and Japan to further promote ASEAN+3 cooperation in the coming time. He suggested
giving priority to trade cooperation, financial stability, support for small
and medium-sized enterprises, capacity building for health resilience, digital
transformation, response to climate change, and promotion of even and
sustainable development.
Ambassador Cui Tiankai, head of the Chinese delegation, affirmed
that China always treasures and pledges to promote ASEAN+3 framework - the
driving force of growth in East Asia. He asked ASEAN+3 countries to continue upholding
the spirit of solidarity and cooperation for mutual benefit and trust, and focus on
practical and effective cooperation while maintaining an environment of peace
and stability, facilitating recovery and development, expanding inclusive
cooperation, promoting multilateralism and trade liberalization, and
accelerating innovation, digital and green transformation.
On the occasion, he announced that China will host the EAF-21 next
year.
Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN and head of the Japanese
delegation Kiya Masahiko proposed joint work in priority areas
stated in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), including maritime
cooperation, high-quality infrastructure connectivity and development, people-to-people
exchange, public health, sustainable agriculture development, food security,
climate change response, and fulfillment of sustainable development goals.
In his speech, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Tran Duc Binh suggested in the near future, ASEAN coordinate with China, Japan and the RoK
to strengthen and further uphold the role of cooperation mechanisms within the ASEAN 3 framework,
thus making effective contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the
region.
He proposed stepping up economic, trade and financial
cooperation as a lever to propel recovery and inclusive growth, towards
sustainable development while giving priority to consolidating regional health
capacity, especially in research, development and production of vaccines.
Results of discussions at the two-day event will be submitted to
senior officials of ASEAN+3 countries to set specific orientations and measures
to further deepen ASEAN+3 cooperation in the new period./.