Strengthening cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism, and cyber security
This is one of the contents discussed at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference, which continued to meet with partner countries including the Foreign Ministers of South Korea, Canada, Australia, the US and the EU's high representative in charge of foreign affairs and security.
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| Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh poses for a photo with ASEAN Foreign Ministers and officials at the opening ceremony of the conference. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the Conferences.
At the above conferences, the partners affirmed their importance to relations with ASEAN, support ASEAN's central role in the region, and actively participate in forums chaired by ASEAN.
With Korea, ASEAN countries welcome initiatives within the framework of Korea's New Southern Policy to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN on the three pillars of peace-prosperity-people.
The Ministers agreed to continue efforts to facilitate trade and investment, and connect businesses and the private sector of both sides.
The two sides noted that two-way trade turnover has doubled in the past decade since the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement took effect in 2007, striving to reach the target of 200 billion USD by 2020.
At the Conference, Cambodia, the coordinator of ASEAN-Korea relations, officially transferred the coordinating role for the 2018-2021 period to Brunei.
With Canada, ASEAN countries welcome Canada to actively contribute to ASEAN-led mechanisms; promote cooperation in priority areas based on the ASEAN-Canada Action Plan for the period 2016-2020, especially in countering terrorism and violent extremism, transnational crime, trade-investment, connectivity, science, technology, innovation, environment, climate change, education and tourism.
At the Conference, the Philippines, the coordinator of ASEAN-Canada relations, officially transferred the coordinating role for the 2018-2021 period to Myanmar.
With the EU, the two sides acknowledged the positive results in the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action for the period 2018-2022 (adopted in August 2017), emphasizing the parties' commitment to promoting a rules-based international order; encouraging the two sides to strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, including the possibility of resuming negotiations on the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement, and air transport.
The Ministers appreciated the EU's support to ASEAN in promoting regional connectivity and narrowing the development gap.
At the end of the Conference, Thailand transferred the role of coordinating ASEAN-EU relations for the 2018-2021 period to Singapore.
With Australia, the Ministers acknowledged positive progress in implementing the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action for the 2015-2019 period; agreed to further promote cooperation in priority areas such as counter-terrorism and violent extremism, cyber security, border management and combating human trafficking, maritime security, defense cooperation, economy, climate change and disaster management.
The Ministers committed to maintaining a free and open regional and international trading system, exchanging measures to enhance trade and investment through the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), and looking forward to soon completing negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
At the end of the Conference, Myanmar officially transferred the role of coordinating ASEAN-Australia relations to Malaysia.
With the US, ASEAN Ministers emphasized that the balanced and mutually beneficial economic relationship between ASEAN and the US has brought great benefits to both sides.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo affirmed that the US highly appreciates ASEAN's role in regional peace and stability; placing ASEAN at the center between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean regions in the US strategy.
The two sides agreed to continue promoting investment, connectivity, maritime cooperation and responding to transnational challenges, including terrorism and violent extremism.
ASEAN welcomes initiatives on security, sustainable development, good governance, education, youth, startups...
At the end of the Conference, Laos officially took over the role of coordinator of ASEAN-US relations for the 2018-2021 period from Malaysia.
Speaking at the above conferences, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that South Korea, Canada, Australia, the US and the EU are important partners of ASEAN; he welcomed these partners to actively coordinate with ASEAN to promote dialogue and cooperation for peace, stability and development in the region.
The Deputy Prime Minister also affirmed his support for the proposed priority areas of cooperation, and wished to continue working with other countries to build and implement many specific initiatives./.
