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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh along with ASEAN and EU leaders on December 14 attended a summit in Brussels, Belgium, to mark 45 years of the dialogue partnership between the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
This is the first time that the leaders of ASEAN have met with all those from EU member states. The two sides affirmed the importance of the relationship between the two leading regional organizations in the world, and each other's "integration partners".
Over the past 45 years, ASEAN-EU relations have developed dynamically and recorded a lot of achievements.
Looking to the future, the two sides agreed to further deepen the strategic partnership established in 2020 on the basis of upholding international law, equal cooperation for mutual benefit, and promoting recovery, and green and sustainable development.
The leaders affirmed that they will focus on enhancing economic and trade cooperation, stabilizing supply chains, maintaining the goal of establishing the ASEAN-EU FTA, strengthening connectivity through the implementation of the Joint Statement on Connectivity in 2020 and the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement.
This is addition to narrowing the development gap, developing sub-regions, stepping up cooperation in climate change adaptation, digital transformation, energy transformation, disaster management, environmental protection, biodiversity, and illegal fishing.
The EU announced an investment package worth 10 billion EUR (US$10.6 billion USD) under its Global Gateway strategy in ASEAN, the launch of the Sustainable Connectivity Team Europe Initiative, and the implementation of a programme on environmental protection worth 30 million EUR.
The two sides concurred to ramp up multilateral cooperation, share common values and interests, promote international law, and address regional and global challenges, thus making significant contributions to peace, security, stability and sustainable development.
They emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, supporting dialogue and trust building, exercising self-restraint, not taking actions that would escalate tensions, and settling disputes by peaceful measures, in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
They called for the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the building of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the UNCLOS.
Regarding other regional and global issues, the leaders shared the view that differences and disagreements should be resolved peacefully.
The summit adopted a joint statement reviewing the achievements recorded over the past 45 years, and putting forth future orientations.
In his address, the Vietnamese cabinet leader underscored the significance of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit, and stated that cooperation achievements have created a foundation and an impulse for the relationship.
He proposed both sides consistently pursue the set targets, renew their mindset and take actions to propel their strategic partnership in a balanced and fair manner, with harmonious interests and shared risks.
Vietnam always backs EU firms, the Vietnamese Government chief said, while calling on the EU to remove the “yellow card” on Vietnamese fisheries and soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agency (EVIPA).
He stressed that global issues need global approaches, and reiterated Vietnam’s strong commitments to climate change, and green, sustainable development.
Chinh also called for the EU’s maximum support in finance and technology within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership, its sharing of information and experience in green, clean technology, its cooperation in innovation, digital transformation, green economy and digital economy, and its collaboration with ASEAN in sub-regional and Mekong development.
Affirming ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea issue, he urged the two sides to work hand in hand to build the sea into waters of peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.
PM Chinh also voiced concern over the conflict in Ukraine, underlining the need to respect legal and legitimate rights and interests, and concern of parties, with top priorities given to ending the conflict, and protecting essential infrastructure, and life and property of civilians.
He also affirmed ASEAN’s common view on peacefully dealing with conflicts and disagreements on the basis of respect for international law, the UN Charter, and independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.
Later the same day, PM Chinh and other leaders attended a banquet on the occasion of the summit.
Source: VOV
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