Nation suggests New Zealand assist ASEAN in COVID-19 response
VOV.VN - Vietnam has requested that New Zealand help ASEAN in its ongoing response to COVID-19, providing timely and equal vaccine access, along with help with the bloc’s economic recovery.
Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of the Vietnamese delegation, made the statement while attending the ASEAN-New Zealand Ministerial Meeting which was held virtually on August 5 within the framework of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-54) and Related Meetings.
In his speech he highlighted the significance of the ASEAN-New Zealand strategic partnership for causes such as peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainability in the region.
The nation hopes that the both sides will move to level up the AANZFTA and finalise the terms of ASEAN-New Zealand Air Services Agreement. This was along with a suggestion that New Zealand help the bloc to narrow the development gap and bolster sustainable development in sub regions, including the GMS.
With regard to the East Sea issue, the head of the Vietnamese delegation emphasised that ASEAN member states and New Zealand share both an interest and responsibility in maintaining peace, stability, security, and maritime safety in the waters.
The country therefore reaffirms ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea, adding that ASEAN and China are actively building an effective and efficient COC in line with international law and the UNCLOS.
During the course of the event, New Zealand and ASEAN agreed to implement the new Plan of Action in the 2021 to 2025 period, prioritise support for each other in COVID-19 response and sustainable recovery, as well as fostering economic-trade-investment co-operation and stabilising the regional supply chain.
They consented to bolster co-operation in a range of fields, including anti-terrorism and transnational crimes, education, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, natural disaster preparedness, and smart agriculture.
In response, New Zealand backs ASEAN’s principle stance and welcomed the bloc upholding its role in promoting dialogues and trust-building, ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). This is in addition to building an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
At the conclusion of the event, Brunei took over the co-ordinating role for ASEAN-New Zealand relations for 2021 to 2024.