PM Phucmade the statement at the 21st ASEAN-China Summit held in Singapore on November14, as part of the 33rd ASEAN Summit framework. The event also celebrated 15years of strategic partnership between the two sides.
Highlightingthe importance and huge benefits of the partnership for both parties involvedand for peace, stability, and cooperation in the region, Phuc agreed that ASEANand China should increase dialogue efforts and collaboration, as well as buildmutual trust and uphold international law, contributing to the formation ofcodes of conduct for an open, transparent, and rule-based regional structure.
TheVietnamese Government leader said the East Sea issue remains complex, causingconcern for all sides involved and possible negative impacts on regionalstability.
Heunderscored that ASEAN and China should continue upholding the principles theyhad agreed upon, which involve boosting dialogues; building mutual trust;respecting international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the peaceful settlement of disputes; avoidingthe militarisation or complication of the situation; developing an effectiveand substantive code of conduct (COC); and fully and seriously implementing theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
At thesummit, ASEAN and Chinese leaders reiterated the importance of theirpartnership and acknowledged the strong growth of their ties based on mutualtrust, understanding, and respect.
China hasbeen ASEAN’s biggest trade partner and the bloc’s top foreign investor foryears. Their dialogues at all levels have been held regularly, while bilateralcooperation has been deepened across politics-security, economy, socio-culture,and people-to-people exchange.
The leaderslauded positive outcomes achieved in the ASEAN-China Year of Innovation 2018and agreed to work together for an effective ASEAN-China Media Exchange Year2019.
ChinesePremier Li Keqiang took note of ASEAN’s international role and position, highlightingthat the positive results of cooperation between the bloc and China have laid solidgrounds for the partnership’s expansion.
He affirmedthat their principles have encouraged mutual respect for shared benefits and theboosting of win-win cooperation.
Li said bothsides should strive for stronger economy-trade-investment connection toward thegoals of 1 trillion USD in bilateral trade and 150 billion USD in foreigndirect investment in 2020. He urged the sides to focus on upgrading and effectivelyimplementing the ASEAN-China free trade agreement and to support a multilateraltrade system of openness, transparency, and rule of law.
Chinaannounced its plan to add an additional 10 million USD to the ASEAN-Chinacooperation fund and invite 1,000 ASEAN youths to visit China.
Li alsostated that China will continue working with ASEAN in completing the COC withinthe next three years and in fully implementing the DOC, contributing to peace,stability, safe and free navigation and flyover, and free trade in the EastSea. –VNA