ASEM9 strengthens partnership for peace and prosperity

The Vientiane Declaration stresses ASEM leaders’ determination to promote the partnership for peace, stability, development and prosperity between the two continents and the world over and to support the members in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

The summit praised the coordination in coping with non-traditional security challenges, especially the impact of climate change, natural disasters, food security, energy security, nuclear safety, piracy, the protection and sustainable use of water resources, particularly the cross-border ones, and adopted initiatives to further strengthen ASEM cooperation in these key sectors.

Delegates applauded the achievements in building an ASEAN Community in 2015, and affirmed ASEAN’s role in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.

They also welcomed the EU’s recent participation in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

The meeting confirmed that now more than ever, recovering the economy, security and stability is a common aspiration and interest of all the countries.

Some ASEM members stated that the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures in line with the UN Charter and international law is a principle.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung proposed reforming the approach and the way to deal with global issues based on a long-term multi-sector vision, in combination with the implementation of the UN MDGs, ensuring environmental protection, poverty reduction and gender equality.

He also put forth measures to accelerate the implementation of initiatives to deal with current global challenges in a timely and effective manner.

ASEM should increase its contribution to global schemes, making them effective in solving the arising issues as well as improving international financial institutions and the effectiveness of the regional and inter-regional cooperation mechanisms, he noted.

The meeting adopted Vietnam’s initiatives on the organisztion of an ASEM summit on natural disaster prevention and relief in coping with climate change and an ASEM conference on the management of water and river basins.

The PM underlined the need to create regional structures suitable to the changes and the diversity of the development levels and political and social systems to push up the positive trends.

Countries should also share the common goal of peace, stability and development, he said, adding that the structures should be constructive, transparent and effective in coping with the rapid development in the world and traditional and non-traditional challenges, as well as ensure the legitimate interests of developing countries.

Dung affirmed that ASEAN’s central role and its great efforts are of paramount importance in ensuring peace, security, cooperation and accelerating development in South East Asia.

Disputes should be settled through peaceful negotiations on the basis of the international law, the adopted mechanisms and agreements, including the ASEAN Six-point Principle on the East Sea, he added.

On regional issues, Prime Minister Dung said that the regional structure taking shape in Southeast Asia, ASEAN’s central role is further consolidated and confirmed as the factor of primary importance in ensuring an environment of peace, security, cooperation and development in the region.

On the sidelines of the summit, PM Dung met with some ASEM leaders, including Japanese PM Noda Yoshihiko, Australian PM Julia Gillard, Finish PM Jyrki Katainen and President of the European Commission Barroso.

They praised Vietnam’s role in the region, the fine development of bilateral relations in various fields as well as effective coordination at multilateral forums.

PM Dung along with the leaders also discussed specific measures to further strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation, particularly in economics, trade and investment and agreed to organize practical activities to mark the 40^th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year between Vietnam and Japan, Australia and Finland.