ASEAN needs to seek feasible and sustainable solutions for Myanmar: PM Chinh
VOV.VN - In the spirit of responsibility, sharing and solidarity, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has underlined the need to be steadfast and persistent in carrying out the 5-point consensus, supporting Myanmar, a member of the ASEAN family, and finding feasible and sustainable solutions to overcome difficulties.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 11 led a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend the 41st ASEAN Summit with a major focus on ASEAN's external relations, regional structure and regional and international issues of shared concern.
Leaders of ASEAN member states shared their views on the rapid and unpredictable developments of the geopolitical environment, strategic frictions among major countries, rising tensions in many hot spots, and complicated developments of non-traditional security issues such as epidemics, natural disasters, climate change, energy security, food security that have profound impacts on the region and ASEAN.
In that context, the leaders emphasized more than ever that ASEAN needs to consolidate solidarity and self-reliance, which are fundamental values that always go hand in hand with the regional group’s process of association and cooperation from the past, present and future.
The countries agreed that ASEAN should take a holistic approach, outline a strategic vision and contribute responsibly to handle emerging challenges, promote sustainable recovery and inclusive growth in order serve people’s lives and interests.
Concerning ASEAN's external relations, the leaders welcomed the cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, while continuing to recognize substantive progress, affirming strengthening ASEAN's solidarity and centrality, enhancing effectiveness of ASEAN-led mechanisms, building trust, and contributing to strengthening an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based architecture.
The meeting highly appreciated practical cooperation programs and projects with partners, which are important contributions to the ASEAN community- building process of, thus creating a favorable environment for peace, stability and sustainable development.
International and regional issues such as the East Sea, Myanmar, the Korean peninsula, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have captured attention and wide-ranging exchanges from the leaders.
The leaders underlined the importance and responsibility of countries in maintaining peace, security and stability in the East Sea, emphasizing the full and effective implementation of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) towards achieving the effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
The countries shared concerns about the situation in Myanmar and the implementation of the 5-point consensus has not made progress as expected.
Affirming Myanmar's membership in ASEAN, the countries agreed to continue supporting Myanmar in overcoming the current difficult period, back the efforts of the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, and approve decisions on the implementation of the 5-point consensus.
Sharing his assessment of the international and regional situation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the instability, uncertainty and unpredictability with the emergence of traditional and non-traditional challenges, the supply chain disruption, inflation, energy and food security and complicated developments of strategic competition for big countries as well as geopolitical fluctuations.
Regarding international and regional issues, PM Chinh affirmed that ASEAN needs to play a central role, in which it is necessary to accelerate the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and step up efforts to build the effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
Affirming Myanmar's membership in ASEAN, the countries agreed to continue supporting Myanmar to overcome the current difficult period, support the efforts of the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, and approve decisions on implementation Agree 5 points.
In that context, the Vietnamese Government leader reaffirmed the importance of maintaining solidarity, promoting inner strength, sense of responsibility, balanced approach, objectivity and steadfastness in the principles of the Association.
This is also what makes ASEAN attractive as reflected in the interest of partners who want to strengthen and upgrade the cooperation relationship with the regional bloc and through the full presence of partners at the summit.
In order to further improve the effectiveness of external relations, PM Chinh suggested that it is necessary to boost coordination with partners in joint efforts to contribute to ensuring peace, security and development, and strengthening internal strategic cohesion so that partners can truly respect and support ASEAN's central role and pledge long-term cooperation with ASEAN through ASEAN-led mechanisms.
As the ASEAN- Korea coordinator, Vietnam will join other countries in promoting this relationship in a more and more substantive and effective manner.
Regarding international and regional issues, the Vietnamese Government chief emphasized that ASEAN needs bravery, harmony and balance in dealing with hot issues in the region, while sharing ASEAN's views on the East Sea situation. Myanmar-related issues, and Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Together with the ASEAN leaders, Chinh the underlined the need to strengthen ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea issue, and suggested ramping up cooperation in marine environment conservation, humanitarian assistance for fishermen and seafarers, and illegal fishing response.
PM Chinh expressed his support for the adoption of decisions on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, thus creating an important basis for ASEAN to improve its ability to support Myanmar more effectively.
He also emphasized the need to provide support and ask concerned parties in Myanmar to show responsibility and goodwill cooperation to promote effective and comprehensive implementation of the 5-point consensus for a stable future and development of Myanmar, for the happiness and interests of the people of Myanmar and for the solidarity, image and prestige of ASEAN.
PM Chinh also shared common concerns about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, upheld the meaning and value of peace, and affirmed that respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity is a fundamental principle of international relations and a prerequisite for building international peace and security.