Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung (Source: VNA) The statement wasmade by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung in an interview granted to thepress on the outcomes of the summit and related meetings as well as theVietnamese delegation’s contributions.
According to theofficial, from the preparation phase, Vietnam actively coordinated with thePhilippines and other ASEAN countries in realising priority themes for theASEAN Year 2017 proposed by the host country as well as in making the group’sgeneral documents and contents discussed at the summit.
Vietnam alsofulfilled its role as the Chair of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration TaskForce and the coordinator for the ASEAN-India dialogue partnership, whilecontributing constructive ideas during discussions on the basis of upholdingASEAN solidarity and fostering the building of a strong ASEAN Community, Dungsaid.
To build a strongASEAN Community, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed the need to give thepriority to meeting people’s interests and building a people-centred ASEAN.
The Governmentleader emphasised the necessity for the group to reform and continueimplementing measures to better its operations, and boost intra-bloccooperation and regional connectivity.
PM Phuc alsodiscussed measures to deal with non-traditional security challenges such asclimate change and pirates, while showing concerns over accelerating tensionson the Korean Peninsula, East Sea and East China Sea. He stressed the need forASEAN to uphold basic regulations and common viewpoint in tackling disputes bypeaceful means and on the basis of international law, stated Dung.
The deputy foreignminister also told reporters that on the sidelines of the 30th ASEANSummit, PM Phuc had bilateral meetings with leaders of Malaysia, Myanmar,Brunei, Thailand and the Philippines.
During the meetings,the Government head exchanged opinions on the fields Vietnam needs to intensifycooperation with these countries, and proposed several solutions to existingdifficulties, he added.
The diplomat sharedthat during the ASEAN Summit and related meetings, PM Phuc and leaders of ASEANmember states focused on three main issues: the building of the ASEANCommunity, ASEAN’s external relations and the regional and global situations.
The leaders onceagain stressed the importance of solidarity and the central role of ASEAN inthe evolving regional architecture, considering it a decisive factor tomaintain and promote the group’s role in the region and the world.
They also stressedthat ASEAN should have a strong voice and contribute practically to peace,security and stability in the region and the world in the context ofcomplicated regional and global situations.
They showed concernsover recent developments in the East Sea, Dung said, adding that they affirmedASEAN’s common stance of upholding the peaceful settlement of disputes,strictly and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe East Sea (DOC) and working towards the formation of a Code of Conduct inthe East Sea (COC).-VNA
VNA
