Vietnam makes active contributions to 32nd ASEAN Summit: Deputy FM

A Vietnamese high-ranking delegation led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc actively participated in the discussions and gave opinions to the drafting of the documents at the 32nd ASEAN Summit, which was held in Singapore on April 27-28.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (the fourth from left) and other ASEAN leaders at the 32nd ASEAN Summit (Source:VNA)
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (the fourth from left) and other ASEAN leaders at the 32nd ASEAN Summit (Source:VNA) 

Talking to the press on Vietnam’s participation in the 32nd ASEAN Summit, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung said PM Phuc expressed his strong support for the theme and priorities of ASEAN in 2018, as well as proposed orientations for strengthening intra-bloc cooperation and between ASEAN and its partners in the spirit of promoting self-resilience and innovation.

The PM stressed that ASEAN needs to improve its self-resilience in all the three pillars, especially fostering solidarity and unity. 

He added that the economic and financial self-reliance and building a self-resilient ASEAN community in the face of challenges affecting people's lives such as natural disasters, climate change, and epidemics play an important role. He agreed that ASEAN should promote creativity and take advantage of the 4th industrial revolution, and supported the development of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN).

Regarding the regional and international situation, PM Phuc and other ASEAN leaders welcomed the positive results of the Inter-Korean Summit on April 27, saying that ASEAN should continue to step up efforts to promote cooperation and dialogue, build trust on the basis of existing stances and principles on the East Sea, and work towards the formation of an effective and legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), thus promoting peace, stability, and cooperation in the East Sea. 

According to Dung, the Vietnamese Government leader also stressed that new cooperation initiatives proposed for the Indian Ocean and the Pacific need to contribute to peace, stability and development, and respect the central role played by ASEAN and the bloc’s basic principles and values as well.

Relating to the 4th Industrial Revolution and the trend of smart city development in ASEAN, Dung said the revolution not only opens many opportunities but also poses challenges for ASEAN member countries. 

ASEAN leaders said the bloc need to ensure self-resilence, promote creativity and make the most of opportunities from the revolution, giving priority to fostering digital economy and governance, expanding e-commerce, increasing public access to information through digital technology, which are areas of great potential and in line with ASEAN's development needs.

The ASCN is the initiative of Singapore as ASEAN Chair 2018, which aims to materialise the year’s goal of connecting cities within ASEAN, promoting smart urbanisation through applying new technologies and improving the urban management skills to better the living conditions for regional people, he noted.

Smart urban development will be done based on aspects of transport, water resources management, energy, health, education, public service, and information technology. Each city joining the network will build its action plans and promote feasible projects that are tailored to its own needs and interests, in a mutual support basis, he said, adding that  Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang city of Vietnam, and 23 other cities in ASEAN have registered to join this network. 

Regarding East Sea-related issues, the Deputy FM said the East Sea situation continued to be a hot topic at the summit. 

ASEAN leaders reaffirmed that the maintenance of peace, security, and stability in the East Sea are the common interests and responsibilities of countries in the region, he said.

They insisted that ASEAN should stay united, and firmly and consistently uphold common stance and principles agreed on the East Sea issue, such as ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the Sea; and settling disputes in a peaceful manner on the basis of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982), refraining from the use or threat to use forces and militarization; fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and early finalising  an effective and legal binding Code of Conduct (COC) of parties in the waters.

The leaders applauded the initial positive progress of the negotiation process for building the COC, which was reflected in the results of the working-level meeting between ASEAN and China held in Vietnam’s Nha Trang city last March. They emphasised the need to build a COC that is practical, effective, consistent with international law and capable of regulating the behaviors of stakeholders, thus contributing to creating a rule-based regional order, for the peaceful and stable East Sea.

VNA

Other News

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

The NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs has moved fast to reshuffle its organisation after the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th NA, updating its work agenda to match new directives set out in the resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the first Congress of the NA Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 term.

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam and Croatia should strive to double bilateral trade turnover from the current level of 161 million USD; study the establishment of a Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation to create a long-term, stable, and effective framework for collaboration, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

PSNews - The spokesperson stated that the dispatch of personnel by relevant parties to features belonging to Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission constitutes a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty under international law. She stressed that such actions run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as ongoing efforts by countries to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

PSNews - Vietnam’s proposals placed the highest priority on ensuring a peaceful and stable environment conducive for continued sustainable development and improving the well-being and happiness of the ASEAN people. They were praised by member states and incorporated into the core contents of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the response to the Middle East crisis.

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam highly values the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in strengthening national capacity in crime prevention and criminal justice, drug control, and addressing emerging challenges, particularly cybercrime, said Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang.

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Consolidating the central steering committees for institutional and legal reform and for judicial reform is necessary in order to streamline organisational structures without reducing responsibilities, while ensuring clear accountability, measurable outputs and concrete results. Following the restructuring, the body will be renamed the central steering committee for institutional improvement and law enforcement, with the Party General Secretary and State President serving as its head.

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

At the meeting this week, Ambassador Viet briefed the UNGA President on developments during the first two weeks of the conference. He stressed that the current international geopolitical landscape poses numerous complex challenges, while reaffirming Vietnam’s determination, together with other member states, to promote substantive and balanced outcomes at the conference.

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

The host leader stressed that cooperation between localities, particularly between the capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane, plays an especially important role as a pioneering force in effectively implementing the foreign polices of the two Parties and States, while also serving as a bridge between politics and development, as well as between strategy and concrete action.