Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the event (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – ASEAN and Indian leaders reaffirmed commitment toorienting bilateral ties in the 21st century during the 17th ASEAN-India Summit held in Hanoi on November 12 under the chair of PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Based on common values and long-standing ties, both sideshighlighted the significance of ASEAN-India strategic partnership to peace,stability, development and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

ASEAN leaders hailed India’s “Look East” policy to deepen tieswith the bloc as well as the country’s support for principles and valuesmentioned in their common documents. They wished that bilateral ties willthrive to match their potentials.

About the fight against COVID-19, ASEAN wished that India wouldshare its experience in COVID-19 vaccine development. They also introducedregional initiatives to fight the pandemic to India.

They wished that both sides would ensure the flow of trade andinvestment to mitigate the impacts of supply chain disruption caused by thepandemic on the basis of bilateral agreements, including the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement.

Speaking highly of ASEAN’s efforts in economic, trade andinvestment development, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed that ASEANis always an important part in India’s external strategies.

Modi said frameworks found and led by ASEAN lay a solidfoundation for regional trust building.

India hails ASEAN’s stance on Indo-Pacific cooperation, staysready to cooperate with ASEAN to promote the implementation of priorities inthe ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, he said, wishing that ASEAN memberstates would make effective use of a credit package worth 1 billion USDprovided by India to develop infrastructure.

On the occasion, he announced that the Indian Government will contribute1 million USD to ASEAN COVID-19 response fund. He vowed to work closely withASEAN to study and develop COVID-19 vaccine at reasonable prices.

On regional and global issues, both sides pledged to work closelytogether to cope with traditional and non-traditional challenges, especially inthe fight against terrorism and trans-national crimes.

India is willing to work with ASEAN member states for the EastSea of peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom,Modi said.

He affirmed support for ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea, especiallythe principles of refraining from the  use of force and threat to use force in the settlement ofdisputes, non-militarisation and respect to international law.

India calls on parties to fully abide by the Declaration on the Conductof Parties in the East Sea (DOC), soon reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea inline with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS).

☂ PM Phuc wished that India would engage more deeply in ASEAN cooperationareas and drive back the pandemic together with countries. 

He hailed India for actively carrying forward Mekong – Ganga cooperationand hoped that projects within its framework will make practical contributionsto narrowing regional development gap.

About the East Sea, PM affirmed that Vietnam’s viewpoit suitsASEAN’s principle stance on the East Sea which was affirmed at the 36th ASEAN Summit in June, the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting inSeptember and the 37th ASEAN Summit, towards building a water ofpeace, stability and cooperation.

🅰 Concluding the event, the Chairman Statement on theoutcomes of the 17th ASEAN-India Summit was issued./.