Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucattended and delivered his remarks at the opening ceremony of the 37th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi on November 12. Following is the full remarks:
Your Excellency NguyenPhu Trong, General Secretary, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,
Your Majesty,Excellencies Leaders of ASEAN,
Your ExcellencyMadam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President of AIPA-41,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me to warmlywelcome leaders of ASEAN member states and partners to the Opening Ceremony ofthe 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. Though we have notbeen able to meet in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our dialogue andcooperation still move forward thanks to modern digital platforms. Thegeographical distance and physical divide among nations have been less of anissue.
I wish to express mygratitude to His Excellency Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary and Presidentof the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, for his presence and important remarks atthis Ceremony.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are going throughincredibly difficult times, as COVID-19 threatens the lives and livelihood ofour people. The economic and social life is in disarray, further aggravated bysevere natural disasters, storms, floods and droughts. The fruits of socialprogress and economic development accumulated over decades risk beingevaporated and it may take years for us to recuperate from such losses.
Anguished by the pain ofour people and desirous of recovery, the Governments of ASEAN members stood asone in our action from very early on. In mid-April, shortly after the COVID-19outbreak, the Special ASEAN and APT Summits on COVID-19 were convened withstrong pledges to act in a “Cohesive and Responsive” manner. At the 36th ASEANSummit in June, ASEAN member states began taking decisive actions both at thenational and regional levels.
The ASEAN COVID-19Response Fund, announced at ASEAN-36, received a pledge of 10 million USD andstands ready to provide assistance to countries in combatting the pandemic,should they need it. At this 37th ASEAN Summit, we willestablish the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies and adopt the ASEANStrategic Framework for Public Health Emergencies. We have agreed to establishthe ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergenciesand Emerging Diseases with Japan's assistance. These are substantiveoutcomes of great significance, which help enhance our shared capacity forresponse to medical emergencies and future epidemic threats.
Undaunted by adversitiesand challenges, the ASEAN Community process still progressed despite thepandemic. We are elated that our cooperation across the three pillars hasproceeded smoothly according to the roadmaps of the Blueprints of theASEAN Community Vision 2025. Let me take this opportunity to stress the needfor enhancing institutional capacity and operational efficiency for the ASEANapparatus to rise to the demands dictated by the new situation. Reviewing theimplementation of the ASEAN Charter is therefore relevant and makes part of ourSummit’s agenda.
Our task is twofold:fight the pandemic and secure recovery. Accordingly, we will adopt the ASEANComprehensive Recovery Framework and its Implementation Plan across the threepillars. The plans for stabilizing production and supply chains, strengtheningconnectivity and restoring trade in the region are well under way. We arecreating a safe travel framework for businesses and investors amidst thepandemic. In the short term, we may consider putting in place an ASEAN TravelCorridor Arrangement Framework.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Three quarter a centuryhas passed since the end of the Second World War. World peace and security,however, are yet truly sustainable. This year, they are particularly undergreater threat as a result of compounding risks arising from the unpredictableconduct of states, major power rivalries and frictions, challengedinternational multilateral system, increasingly acute non-traditional securityissues and rise of extremist tendencies.
In recognizing theopportunities and challenges facing our region, ASEAN has always stayed true toits path of self-reliance and steadfast in finding a balanced and harmoniousapproach. Its centrality is maintained without being swayed or drawn into themaelstroms in the region and the world. I welcome the Declaration of ASEANForeign Ministers on the 53th Anniversary of the Association,for it showcases our determination to maintain a Southeast Asia of peace,security, stability and neutrality. ASEAN has also expressed its consistentprinciple and strong commitment to ensuring peace and stability in the SouthChina Sea, a critical sea lane of the region and the world. It is to become aregion where the free flow of goods goes unimpeded, where differences anddisputes are settled via peaceful means, where the law is respected andobserved, and common values are upheld. We espouse the 1982 UNCLOS as aframework for all activities at sea. As such, we expect an early conclusion ofan effective and substantive COC, in line with international law and UNCLOS.
Over the last 75 years,exhorted by the Declarations and Resolutions of the UN, our world and regionhave achieved encouraging progress in promoting gender equality and women'sempowerment. On this occasion, for the first time, we will hold an ASEAN WomenLeaders Summit, where women leaders from our member states directly speak onthe role of women in promoting sustainable development in a post-COVID-19world.
As 2020 draws to aclose, the 37th ASEAN Summit and related Summits between ASEANand its partners shall be instrumental in achieving ASEAN priorities for theyear and mapping out our future cooperation directions.
First, ASEAN needs tofocus its resources and efforts, at the highest level, to curb the threat ofthe COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines and effective treatment should be made readilyavailable, and preventive healthcare capacity enhanced to respond to medicalemergencies and protect the health and lives of our people. At the same time,we need to step up ways to assist our businesses in restoring production,trade, work and livelihood for the people. The ASEAN Community Councils shallmake haste in putting the Implementation Plan for the ASEAN ComprehensiveRecovery Framework into action after these Meetings.
Playing its part inreshaping the post-COVID-19 world, ASEAN needs to establish its position amidstthe economic-political shift among nations and the readjustments in the globalproduction and supply chains. We must make sure that ASEAN supplement itscompetitive advantages with acquired scientific and technological advances,digital transformation, quality workforce and diverse markets for input andoutput.
Second, equitable andsustainable growth is hugely important in ASEAN Community-building, especiallyas epidemics and natural disasters threaten to stunt growth across the entireregion. ASEAN reaffirms its commitment and unity in narrowing the developmentgap and stands for seamlessly mainstreaming sub-regional development effortinto regional development.
Third, peace andstability are essential for recovery and development. Should stability bemaintained, international relations must be governed by rules, and withrespect, understanding, dialogue, cooperation and trust among nations. In thatendeavor, ASEAN shall continue playing a central role in leading extensive dialogueand cooperation processes in the region. Outside partners will be furtherengaged in issues of common interest for effective response to challenges.
With that, we will adopta range of important documents with our partners, including the Declaration onthe 15th Anniversary of the EAS, and the APT Leaders’ Statementon Strengthening Cooperation for Economic and Financial Resilience in the Faceof Emerging Challenges. We will also conclude negotiations and sign theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which indicates our strongcommitment to trade liberalization and connectivity between ASEAN and itspartners.
Further efforts shouldbe made towards the establishment of a rules-based multilateral cooperationarrangement in the region, and formulate and share universally-accepted norms.As part of these efforts, Cuba, Colombia and South Africa will join the Treatyfor Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) at this Summit.
Last but not least, theASEAN Community's identity and solidarity need to be upheld in this time oftrial and tribulation. I welcome the adoption of the Report on ASEAN Identity.The recommendations of the ACC on encouraging the flying of the ASEAN Flag inmember states and the use of the ASEAN Anthem in official ASEAN functions arealso well-received.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Our schedule in the nextfew days are full. I place my trust in the far sight and wise deliberation ofASEAN leaders, and in the active participation and contribution from ourPartners and prominent international institutions, such as the UN, IMF, WB andWHO, in the success of our events.
In solidarity andresilience, ASEAN shall surely rise above its challenges, bring abundance andprosperity to its 600 million citizens, and shall surely be an effective forcefor peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
I hereby declare the 37th ASEANSummit and Related Summits convened.
Thank you for your kindattention./.
VNA
