Ambassador Vu Ho represents Vietnam at the ASEAN+3 Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) 2022 hosted by Cambodia via video teleconference on June 8. (Photo: VNA)In his remarks at the event, Ho, acting head of ASEANSOM Vietnam, spoke highly of achievements made by ASEAN+3 over the last 25years, saying now is the critical time for the regional grouping to look back on itsjourney together and set new directions to promote its further development.
ASEAN+3 plays a significant part in the ASEAN-ledregional structure, he noted, urging the grouping to adapt to the new globalcontext and contribute more effectively to the connectivity and cooperationprocess in East Asia.
Ho called on ASEAN+3 to soon complete theimplementation of the ASEAN+3 Cooperation Work Plan from 2018 – 2022 and adopta new work plan for the 2023 – 2027 period based on what all the countries haveachieved.
He also suggested that China, Japan and the RoK stepup cooperation with ASEAN in priority areas in line with the ASEAN Outlook onthe Indo-Pacific and that ASEAN+3 nations should soon reopen their borders tofacilitate mobility, economic cooperation, trade and regional economicconnectivity.
On regional and international issues of common concern, the Vietnamese representative underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation and dialogue, building trust, upholding international law, promoting cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and mutual respect, and ensuring a peaceful, security and stable environment, including efforts to build sea waters of peace, cooperation and development in the region, thus facilitating efforts for economic recovery and growth and sustainable development.
During the event, ASEAN and the three partnersagreed to maintain their focus on containing the COVID-19 pandemic and togetherboost recovery in a sustainably manner. They will continue supporting capacity buildingin preventive medicine; sharing information and experience; and enhancingcollaboration in production and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, drugs and medicalequipment in an effort to strengthen the region's self-reliance in responding to future epidemicoutbreaks.
They also agreed to together recover and fostertrade and economic partnership, sustain supply chains, deepen financialcooperation, and promote trade liberalisation through the effectiveimplementation of ASEAN’s free trade agreements with the three partners and theRegional Comprehensive Economic partnership (RCEP)./.
VNA
