PM Pham Minh Chinh at the 22nd ASEAN-RoK Summit (Photo: VNA) The event was organised within the framework of the ongoing 38th and 39th Summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and related meetings.
As coordinator for the ASEAN-RoK relations, Vietnam will continue joining hands with other ASEAN members and the RoK to strengthen the strategic partnership and comprehensive cooperation between the sides, thereby contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region, the PM added.
The Vietnamese PM put forward some priorities in expanding and deepening the ASEAN-RoK strategic partnership in the coming time, calling on the RoK to use its strengths in digital technology and digital economy to support ASEAN in digital transformation and sustainable development, as well as in narrowing the development gap via the Mekong-RoK cooperation.
Speaking at the event, RoK President Moon Jae-in affirmed that he values the strategic partnership with ASEAN, highlighting that the organisation is a key priority of the New Southern Policy Plus (NSPP) of the RoK. He reiterated the RoK's support for ASEAN’s central role in the regional structure and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
The RoK will continue to help ASEAN battle the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, announcing an additional 5 million USD in contribution to the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund. He also unveiled the ASEAN-RoK public health and vaccine initiative in connection with the regular organisation of the ASEAN-RoK Health Ministers’ Meeting since this year.
The East Asian nation also supports ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea and welcomes the bloc’s efforts in promoting cooperation, dialogue and trust-building in the region, ensuring the full and effectively implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the building of 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 summit, leaders of ASEAN and the RoK adopted a joint statement on advancing ASEAN-Republic of Korea Cooperation for People-centered Community of Peace and Prosperity.
In the coming time, the sides will continue to prioritise cooperation in fighting against COVID-19 coupled with bolstering comprehensive recovery towards sustainable development.
They pledged to fully roll out the ASEAN-RoK Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) and exert efforts to promptly ratify and implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, thus fostering regional economic connections./.
VNA
