ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership promises breakthrough development: PM
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has expressed his confidence that through the efforts of both sides, the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership boasts plenty of potential and promises breakthrough development in the time ahead.
PM Chinh attended the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit on September 7 within the framework of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related summits in Jakarta of Indonesia.
Upon addressing the 20th ASEAN-India Summit, PM Chinh outlined his belief that with efforts of both sides, the ASEAN - India comprehensive strategic partnership will make breakthrough developments.
In a bid to achieve this goal, he proposed to further intensify economic and trade connections, effectively implement the ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA), promote complementary strengths, and facilitate the greater access of goods to each other's markets.
He therefore suggested that both sides spend more appropriate resources to swiftly complete expressway projects connecting India with ASEAN, along with accelerating connectivity and co-operation in digital transformation. This is in addition to facilitating the application of innovation achievements, thereby opening up further opportunities for technology businesses of both sides.
The Vietnamese Government chief urged India to accelerate the implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and unite in developing the Mekong sub-region, including through the Mekong - Ganga Cooperation to further deepen connections in implementing sustainable development goals between ASEAN and India, thereby contributing to promoting inclusive growth and equal development.
Indian PM Narendra Modi highlighted ASEAN as a pillar of the Act East Policy and the focus of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
ASEAN and India have consented to prioritise sustainable maritime collaboration, combat terrorism and transnational crime, improve medical capacity, promote connectivity and digital transformation, and expand linkages in energy transition and climate change response. The Indian leader announced the establishment of the ASEAN-India Fund for Digital Future.
The two sides adopted joint statements on maritime co-operation and food security enhancement in the crisis period.
At the 18th East Asia Summit, PM Chinh emphazised the stature and strategic value of the EAS as a place where leaders hold dialogue and put forward orientations for peace, security, ties, and prosperity in the region and the world, to promote co-operation, solve conflicts, and raise awareness to get closer together.
To enhance the EAS's important role, the Vietnamese PM proposed to shape a regional structure that is open, inclusive, transparent, and based on international law. This will serve to create fresh momentum for inclusive growth and sustainable development, as well as identifying peace, stability, and development co-operation as goals, with dialogue and collaboration as tools.
He called on all countries to reinforce international solidarity, uphold multilateralism to solve global issues such as epidemics, climate change, resource depletion, and work together to resolve disputes and conflicts by peaceful means based on international law.
At the summits, leaders of countries compared notes on international and regional issues such as the East Sea, Myanmar, the Korean Peninsula, and the conflict in Ukraine.
They underlined the importance of peace, security, and stability in the region as a prerequisite for current efforts towards achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development. The partners affirmed their support for ASEAN's efforts, balanced and objective approach, as well as the common stance on these issues.
The Vietnamese Government chief suggested that partners show their support for the bloc’s centrality in reality, whilst striving to work with the bloc to promote dialogue, consultation, trust-building, and response to common challenges.
He and other leaders reaffirmed their common stance on the East Sea, emphasizing that ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the sea is the interest of all countries. He proposed partners back the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the building of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). This should be done in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), contributing to turning the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability, co-operation, and sustainable development.
Regarding the Myanmar issue, OM Chinh affirmed that the Vietnamese side will actively participate in and contribute to the process of supporting Myanmar to overcome difficulties on the basis of the Five-Point Consensus, along with continuing to provide humanitarian aid to Myanmar and its people.
