(Dan Tri) – Today (August 6), within the framework of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related conferences, ASEAN organized the ASEAN+1 Foreign Ministers’ Meetings with 10 parties.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on August 6 that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the conferences, and in his capacity as coordinator of ASEAN-India relations,
At the Conferences, ASEAN Foreign Ministers and 10 Partner countries reviewed relations during the year and approved many major directions for cooperation in the next period.
ASEAN – China have officially approved the draft framework of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (photo: internet)
Regarding China, the Ministers highly appreciated the positive results in many areas of cooperation in ASEAN-China relations over the past time.
Countries continue to emphasize the priority of practical cooperation in the fields of trade, connectivity, narrowing the development gap, enhancing regional integration, developing infrastructure and enhancing production capacity.
Effectively deploy the ASEAN-China Action Plan for the period 2016-2020, the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), as well as accelerate the negotiation process of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
At the same time, research to promote the ability to combine the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as take advantage of support resources, especially from the ASEAN-ASEAN Cooperation Fund.
ASEAN and China agreed on the theme of ASEAN-China cooperation in 2018 as the Year of Innovation and signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the ASEAN-China Center.
At the Conference, ASEAN and Chinese Ministers officially approved the draft framework of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), creating a basis for substantive negotiations on the content of the COC in the coming period.
At the same time, countries continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and maritime and aviation safety in the East Sea;
With the United States, the Ministers reaffirmed the important principles guiding ASEAN-US relations stated in the Sunnylands Declaration (February 2016) as well as emphasized the need to actively promote the achievements achieved in 40 years.
Regarding cooperation, the two sides focus on economic and trade fields, developing SMSEs, promoting creativity and digital economy, education, enhancing connectivity, promoting maritime cooperation and responding to threats.
ASEAN countries welcome the United States maintaining its commitment to the region and President Donald Trump’s commitment to attend regional conferences later this year.
Chau Nhu Quynh
