At the 24th ASEAN-China Summit. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the 24th ASEAN-China Summit, which was held virtually on October 26 within the framework of the ongoing 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and related meetings.
PM Chinh affirmed that ASEAN and China have built a comprehensive and substantive cooperation platform across all fields and showed their efforts and strong commitments in deepening the bilateral relations based on mutual trust, understanding, respect and win-win cooperation.
In the current context, the sides need to join hands in upholding multilateralism, fair cooperation and mutual respect, thereby protecting peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, he said.
The Vietnamese PM expressed his hope that China will continue to engage in regional and international cooperation so as to maintain peace, stability and disease control, thus promoting recovery and sustainable development.
He appreciated China’s support for countries, including Vietnam, to bring the pandemic under control and maintain growth.
He proposed that ASEAN and China bolster economic cooperation, quickly resume air services, tourism, regional production and supply chains, and create favourable conditions for safe travel of people and entrepreneurs.
PM Chinh expressed a hope that China would assist ASEAN in promoting its centrality, consolidating strategic trust and building a friendly and stable environment conducive for cooperation for common development.
He reiterated ASEAN's stance on the East Sea and called on the sides to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and accelerate negotiations on a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
At the event, ASEAN nations and China reviewed their cooperation in the recent past, agreeing that the bilateral relations have been strengthened with positive results obtained across all sectors, notably cooperation in COVID-19 response and post-pandemic recovery.
ASEAN members thanked China for its timely support right since the emergence of COVID-19.
For his part, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China will continue to support ASEAN in fighting the pandemic, and hopes to work with the organisation for successful recovery.
China will assist ASEAN with COVID-19 vaccine, medical supplies and enhancement of early warning capacity, he said.
The Chinese premier suggested the two sides set up an ASEAN-China public health research and development centre to share scientific and technological achievements in disease prevention and control; and announced an additional 10 million USD for the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund.
He underscored that the sides need to capitalise on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, promote economic connectivity, stabilise supply chains and regional production, strive for inclusive development, and boost science-technology and innovation, digital economy and environmental protection.
China will continue providing scholarships and create optimal and safe conditions for ASEAN students to gradually return to study in the country, he stated.
The Chinese Government leader expressed support for ASEAN’s increasing role and position in the region and the world. China and ASEAN share the same viewpoint on multilateral cooperation, he said, noting support for ASEAN’s central role in the regional structure and pledging to effectively collaborate in tackling regional challenges.
The summit affirmed that peace, security and stability in the region, including the East Sea, are the common concerns and interests of countries. On that foundation, the countries vowed to fully and effectively implement the DOC and exert efforts to build a substantive and effective COC that is in keeping with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The sides agreed on the holding of a special summit marking the 30th anniversary of the ASEAN-China relations.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Cooperation in Support of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework and another on Enhancing Green and Sustainable Development Cooperation./.
