Hanoi, (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended  five conferences on October 26, the firstworking day of the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and relatedSummits from October 26-28.

At the 38th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leader adopted theASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework, and agred to actively consider thepossibility of mutual recognizing and applying electronicvaccination certificates. Countries called for early putting intooperation the ASEAN Regional Reserve of MedicalSupplies and the ASEAN Centre for Response to Public Health Emergencies andEmerging Diseases (ACPHEED).  

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed two keytasks that ASEAN should focus on doing in the time to come during the ongoing38th ASEAN Summit on October 26. He said ASEAN needs a holistic,synchronous and flexible approach to COVID-19 control with the involvement ofthe entire community, and  to position itself in the world’s reshapingsocio-economic relationship, and consolidate its role as the nucleus ofdialogue, cooperation and multilateral and multi-layered economic integrationprocesses in the region.

ASEAN leaders approved,recognised and announced many important documents.

At the 39th ASEAN Summit, leaders shared the view that ASEAN needsto work harder to strengthen and deepen its partnerships, encourage thepartners to support and practically contribute to the building of the ASEANCommunity, and join efforts to deal with emerging challenges.

The leaders reiterated the importance of thefull and efficient implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Partiesin the East Sea (DOC) and welcomed the resumption of talks on a Code of Conductin the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China. They imphasised the need to maintaina conducive environment for the COC negotiations and continue with effortstowards a binding, effective COC in accordance with international law,including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

For the Myanmar matter, they agreed to providemore assistance for the country, affirming that solidarity is the key for ASEANand Myanmar to find out effective solutions to the current complex issues inthe country.  

PM Chinh affirmed that the highest wish of all countries to havea regional environment of peace, security, stability and cooperation in orderfor them to focus on fighting the pandemic, restoring economy and continuing todevelop. He stressed the need to uphold ASEAN solidarity and the bloc’s corevalues and strengths over the past 54 years, along with the responsibility andconstructive spirit of all member nations.  

He called on major countriesparticipating in the region to show their sense of responsibility, respect internationallaw, not to affect regional peace and stability, respect ASEAN’s role, andfully consult ASEAN through mechanisms established and led by the bloc.

At the 22nd ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, ROKPresident Moon Jae-in affirmed that he valuesthe strategic partnership with ASEAN, highlighting that the organisation is akey  priority of the New Southern Policy Plus (NSPP) of the RoK. Hereiterated the RoK's support for ASEAN’s central role in the regional structureand the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

The RoK will continue to help ASEAN battle theCOVID-19 pandemic, he said, announcing an additional 5 million USD incontribution to the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund. He also unveiled theASEAN-RoK public health and vaccine initiative in connection with the regularorganisation of the ASEAN-RoK Health Ministers’ Meeting since this year.

ASEAN leaders appreciated the timely and effective support ofthe RoK, and welcomed the Rok becoming a major trade partner and investor ofASEAN.

As coordinator for ASEAN-RoK relations, PMChinh put forward some priorities in expanding and deepening the ASEAN-RoKstrategic partnership in the coming time, calling on the RoK to use itsstrengths in digital technology and digital economy to support ASEAN in digitaltransformation and sustainable development, as well as in narrowing thedevelopment gap via the Mekong-RoK cooperation.

At the 24th ASEAN-China Summit, leaders agreed that the bilateral relations have been strengthened withpositive results obtained across all sectors, notably cooperation in COVID-19response and post-pandemic recovery.

ASEAN members thanked China for its timely supportright since the emergence of COVID-19. 

For his part, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang saidChina will continue to support ASEAN in fighting the pandemic, and hopes towork with the organisation for successful recovery.

China will assist ASEAN with COVID-19 vaccine,medical supplies and enhancement of early warning capacity, he said.

The Chinese premier suggested the two sides setup an ASEAN-China public health research and development centre to sharescientific and technological achievements in disease prevention and control;and announced an additional 10 million USD for the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund.

PM Chinh affirmed that ASEAN and China havebuilt a comprehensive and substantive cooperation platform across all fieldsand showed their efforts and strong commitments in deepening the bilateralrelations based on mutual trust, understanding, respect and win-win cooperation. 

He appreciated China’s support for countries,including Vietnam, to bring the pandemic under control and maintain growth.

He proposed that ASEAN and China bolster economiccooperation, quickly resume air services, tourism, regional production andsupply chains, and create favourable conditions for safe travel of people andentrepreneurs.

PM Chinh expressed a hope that China wouldassist ASEAN in promoting its centrality, consolidating strategic trust andbuilding a friendly and stable environment conducive for cooperation for commondevelopment.

He reiterated ASEAN's stance on the East Sea andcalled on the sides to fully and effectively implement the DOC and acceleratenegotiations on a practical and effective COC that is in accordance withinternational law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

The sides agreed on the holding of a specialsummit marking the 30th anniversary of the ASEAN-China relations.

The summit concluded with the adoption of theASEAN-China Joint Statement on Cooperation in Support of the ASEANComprehensive Recovery Framework and another on Enhancing Green and SustainableDevelopment Cooperation.

At the 9th ASEAN-US Summit,countries welcomed progress made in the two sides’ multifaceted cooperation andagreed to prioritise collaboration for effective COVID-19 control and supporteach other in sustainable recovery.

ASEAN leaders welcomed the US’s commitment tohelping ASEAN enhance medical capacity and providing more vaccine, whilecalling on the US to strengthen cooperation in researching, developing andproducing vaccine and medicine for COVID-19 treatment. 

US President Joe Biden reaffirmed the UScommitment to strengthening its partnership with ASEAN and underscored theimportance of the US-ASEAN ties to the future of a region of over 1 billionpeople, as well as to security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. 

He expressed support for ASEAN’s centrality inefforts to build a regional structure based on rules and values and principlesstated in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

The US President said the country has presentedmore than 200 million USD for COVID-19 response and 40 million doses of vaccineto ASEAN members. The US will continue to support the region in the fightagainst the pandemic and carry out the ASEAN-US Health Futures initiative,Biden stated.

The President announced the intent to provide upto 102 million USD in new initiatives to expand the US-ASEAN StrategicPartnership to support the region’s recovery from COVID-19, address the climatecrisis, promote economic growth, and develop human capital. 

The two sides reaffirmed the significance ofmaintaining peace, security and stability in the region.

The US voiced support of the ASEAN’s principledstance on the East Sea, and welcomed ASEAN’s promoting cooperation, dialogueand trust building, ensuring the full and effective implementation of the DOCand working to build an effective and binding COC in accordance withinternational law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

The US President expressed support for ASEANefforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation and assist Myanmar in seekingsolutions to stabilize the situation. 
 
The Vietnamese PM suggested boosting theASEAN-US strategic partnership in all three aspects of security, socio-economicrecovery and sustainable, inclusive development.

He thanked the US for its timely and practicalassistance to ASEAN member countries, including Vietnam, in the COVID-19 fight,and suggested the US help ASEAN improve its early-warning capacity for medicalemergencies, and called on US firms that produce vaccines and treatment drugsto quickly fulfill vaccine contracts with ASEAN countries, including Vietnam.

He also proposed that the US further assist theten-member bloc in narrowing development gaps and connecting regions.

For security “hot spots” like the East Sea, PMChinh said constructive approach and responsible behaviour play an importantrole in handling risks, contributing to stability and development.

He expressed his hope that the US will activelyjoin and cooperate with ASEAN in ensuring peace, stability, security, safetyand freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, in the spirit ofrespecting law and peacefully settle all disputes and differences viadiplomatic measures and on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

The PM also shared the US’s concerns, saying hehopes that the US will back ASEAN to play a more active role in efforts seekingsustainable solutions to the Myanmar issue.

At the end of the summit, the two sides adoptedthe ASEAN-US Leaders' Statement on Digital Development that aims to promotedigital transformation and narrow digital gaps in ASEAN./.