PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn. (Photo: VNA) PM Chinh thanked Kao for his attendance at the forum, which was heldat the initiative of Vietnam, and expressed his hope that the AFF will be avenue where initiatives to bolster regional cooperation will be shared, helping to build an ASEAN community of solidarity, resilience andsustainable development.
Speaking highly of the ASEAN Secretariat and Kao’s contributions to the ASEANCommunity, the Vietnamese Government leader stressed that the group has made important achievements after nearly six decades of establishment anddevelopment.
The bloc needs to maintain its solidarity, independence, self-reliance and adaptation to theregional and global volatility so as to build a community with fast andsustainable growth and in accordance with the trend of the era, he said.
PM Chinh held that ASEAN should boost dialogue relations with its partners,particularly the world’s powers, in the direction of balance, diversification,multilateralisation, harmonising benefits and sharing risks, and reducing disagreements for an environment of peace, cooperation and development in theregion, and for a strong, independent, resilient and adaptive ASEAN.
Amidst complicated developments of the region and the world, PM Chinh laid astress on the significance of maintaining solidarity, unity and centralrole of ASEAN in promoting the settlement of regional issues.
Regarding the East Sea issue, he affirmed that ASEAN is adopting a rationalapproach and maintaining its key role in promoting dialogues, handlingdisagreements via peaceful measures and in accordance with international law,including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), preventing the escalation of tensions and conflicts, and ensuring peace,security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.
Regarding the situation in Myanmar, PM Chinh affirmedthat Vietnam and other ASEAN member states always support humanitarianassistance efforts of the bloc and its partners in Myanmar. He expressed hishope that ASEAN will continue to steadfastly implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) tosupport Myanmar.
He said that Vietnam supports Laos as theChair of ASEAN 2024 and the Special Envoy of the Chair on Myanmar, as well as the ASEAN Secretary-General inpromoting the implementation of 5PC, especially in mobilising humanitarianassistance from the international community for the people of Myanmar through the Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management(AHA Centre) to help Myanmar overcome this difficult period.
More than ever, ASEAN needs to unite together,promote more innovative and breakthrough approaches to support Myanmar inseeking feasible and sustainable solutions for the benefit of the people ofMyanmar, and for peace, security, and stability in the region, the PM stressed.
For his part, Kao said the AFF is an important initiative, reflecting the strategic vision of PM Chinhand Vietnam in promoting the establishment of a dedicated ASEAN forum on thefuture of the bloc, contributing to the building of a rapid and sustainable developmentand people-centered ASEAN Community, which can adapt swiftly to geopolitical fluctuations and competitionamong major countries in the region.
For the building of the ASEAN Community, Kao reaffirmed that this is a commoninterest and priority of member nations. He noted that partner countriesconsistently value the relationship with and central role of ASEAN, and are ready tosupport the group in implementing its key priorities in each pillar of theCommunity, especially in trade, investment, human resources training, and people-to-peopleexchanges.
PM Chinh held that ASEAN should boost dialogue relations with its partners,particularly the world’s powers, in the direction of balance, diversification,multilateralisation, harmonising benefits and sharing risks, and reducing disagreements for an environment of peace, cooperation and development in theregion, and for a strong, independent, resilient and adaptive ASEAN.
Amidst complicated developments of the region and the world, PM Chinh laid astress on the significance of maintaining solidarity, unity and centralrole of ASEAN in promoting the settlement of regional issues.
Regarding the East Sea issue, he affirmed that ASEAN is adopting a rationalapproach and maintaining its key role in promoting dialogues, handlingdisagreements via peaceful measures and in accordance with international law,including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), preventing the escalation of tensions and conflicts, and ensuring peace,security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.
Regarding the situation in Myanmar, PM Chinh affirmedthat Vietnam and other ASEAN member states always support humanitarianassistance efforts of the bloc and its partners in Myanmar. He expressed hishope that ASEAN will continue to steadfastly implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) tosupport Myanmar.
He said that Vietnam supports Laos as theChair of ASEAN 2024 and the Special Envoy of the Chair on Myanmar, as well as the ASEAN Secretary-General inpromoting the implementation of 5PC, especially in mobilising humanitarianassistance from the international community for the people of Myanmar through the Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management(AHA Centre) to help Myanmar overcome this difficult period.
More than ever, ASEAN needs to unite together,promote more innovative and breakthrough approaches to support Myanmar inseeking feasible and sustainable solutions for the benefit of the people ofMyanmar, and for peace, security, and stability in the region, the PM stressed.
For his part, Kao said the AFF is an important initiative, reflecting the strategic vision of PM Chinhand Vietnam in promoting the establishment of a dedicated ASEAN forum on thefuture of the bloc, contributing to the building of a rapid and sustainable developmentand people-centered ASEAN Community, which can adapt swiftly to geopolitical fluctuations and competitionamong major countries in the region.
For the building of the ASEAN Community, Kao reaffirmed that this is a commoninterest and priority of member nations. He noted that partner countriesconsistently value the relationship with and central role of ASEAN, and are ready tosupport the group in implementing its key priorities in each pillar of theCommunity, especially in trade, investment, human resources training, and people-to-peopleexchanges.
Regarding the Myanmar situation, Kao said ASEAN needs to prompt relevant parties in Myanmar to increase meetings and dialogues for the interest of the Myanmar people and for peace and stability in the region.
For the East Sea issue, he welcomedand praised Vietnam's strategic thinking and appropriate approach, expressing hishope that all parties will promote negotiations towards the completion of a practical, effective and suitable Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) based on international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, and for the benefit of ASEAN.
On this occasion, the two leaders exchangedviews on other ASEAN cooperation issues such as promoting TimorLeste's efforts to become a full member of the group and enhancing the capacityof the ASEAN Secretariat by recruiting competent officials from the bloc’smember countries, including Vietnam.
On this occasion, the two leaders exchangedviews on other ASEAN cooperation issues such as promoting TimorLeste's efforts to become a full member of the group and enhancing the capacityof the ASEAN Secretariat by recruiting competent officials from the bloc’smember countries, including Vietnam.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam./.
VNA
