Prime Minister successfully concludes his trip to attend the 33rd ASEAN Summit

Officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore bid farewell to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. (Source: Thong Nhat/VNA)

On the evening of November 15, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his wife, along with the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation, returned to Hanoi, successfully concluding their trip to attend the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related summits at the invitation of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

According to a special correspondent of the Vietnam News Agency, taking place from November 13-15, 2018, the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related summits are the most important event of the year for ASEAN with the participation of leaders of 10 ASEAN countries and heads of state and leaders of China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Russia, India, Australia along with Canada (G7 Chair), Chile (G20 Chair) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

During the 3 days, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a rich and urgent working program with many diverse activities, both bilateral and multilateral. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all working sessions, including: Attending and speaking at 18 conferences and meetings; receiving and working with the Vice President of the United States, the President of Chile, the President of South Korea, the Prime Minister of Australia, Malaysia, the King of Brunei and important discussions on the sidelines of the Conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen to discuss measures to promote bilateral relations; receiving leaders of Sembcorp Group, one of the pioneering enterprises investing in Vietnam with 9 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP).

On this occasion, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and former Prime Minister and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong cut the ribbon to inaugurate the “Vietnam Goods Week” in Singapore – a special event to promote Vietnamese goods in Singapore. Vietnam is the only country to organize such an event during the 33rd ASEAN Summit.

Within the framework of the Conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made important speeches, put forward many proposals and measures, and contributed to many documents and agreements adopted at the Conference, reflecting the content of cooperation in many fields, especially those directly related to the interests of the people of ASEAN countries.

Specifically, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the leaders agreed to adopt 20 main documents and 30 thematic documents in various fields, including the Joint Statement on the negotiation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP); the Declaration on the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation; the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030, the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Science, Technology and Innovation; the ASEAN-Russia Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership, the ASEAN-Russia Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Security Using Information and Communications Technology; witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC); the Declaration of ASEAN+3 Leaders on Cooperation in Combating Antibiotic Resistance for a Better Life for People; the Statement on Combating Marine Plastic Waste, etc.

Speaking at the Conferences, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized that on the basis of the favorable momentum of 2018, promoting the spirit of self-reliance and creativity needs to be further strengthened in the following years. Accordingly, ASEAN solidarity and unity must continue to be the key factor in thinking and action for a strong, self-reliant and closely connected ASEAN Community in the context of many fluctuations in the international and regional context.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc supports ASEAN to continue promoting cooperation and dialogue to build trust, uphold international law and support a multilateral international system based on rules, and strengthen cooperation in innovation to make the most of opportunities from the 4th industrial revolution. On this occasion, the Prime Minister also shared Vietnam's initiatives on connecting digital data platforms, harmonizing mobile rates, establishing an ASEAN University of Technology and building a regional disaster early warning information network.

Expressing concern about the current challenges in international economic development, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that local interests, the origin of protectionism, and trade conflicts are posing great challenges. If this situation continues, the world and the region will have to suffer huge consequences and losses that are difficult to foresee. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized the need to continue promoting measures to facilitate trade and investment, minimizing risks from protectionism and selfish trade thinking. According to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, close coordination needs to become a habit and exchange and dialogue are the key to cooperation, the premise of friendship. Given the diversity of countries and to achieve success, connection based on trust must be a continuous activity.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that this is the time to make efforts to conclude RCEP negotiations. Vietnam is ready to work with other countries to seek creative, flexible and appropriate solutions towards the common goal; promoting the construction of the RCEP Agreement to truly become a comprehensive, high-quality, balanced free trade agreement, taking into account the difference in development levels among members. ASEAN needs to take the lead in supporting free trade and regional connectivity. Vietnam's signing of the FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union and especially the Vietnamese National Assembly's ratification of the CPTPP Agreement have created Vietnam's position in the region in terms of proactive integration.

During the discussion, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shared Vietnam's views and stance on regional and international issues of mutual concern; emphasizing that a stable environment and sustainable peace are of paramount importance for development cooperation. Striving for this goal is the common responsibility of all countries. Regarding the East Sea issue, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shared and received agreement from many countries that the situation on the ground is still complicated, causing concern for all parties and may have an adverse impact on stability in the region.

The Prime Minister emphasized the principles agreed upon in ASEAN on upholding international law and the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in peacefully resolving disputes, exercising self-restraint, not using or threatening to use force, not militarizing, not complicating the situation, enhancing trust, actively building an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) and seriously and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

Most ASEAN partner countries affirmed to join hands in efforts to create a favorable environment for dialogue, cooperation and trust building, so that the East Sea becomes a sea of ​​peace, cooperation and development, including the effective and substantive negotiation of the COC based on international law, UNCLOS 1982. At the Conference, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang expressed his opinion that China will continue to work with ASEAN to complete the COC within the next 3 years, fully implement the DOC Declaration, and contribute to peace, stability, freedom, safety, navigation and aviation, and freedom of trade in the East Sea.

It can be said that with more than 25 bilateral and multilateral activities, the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related summits of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ended successfully, continuing to convey the message of a peaceful, stable, self-reliant and creative ASEAN; at the same time promoting comprehensive, substantive and effective cooperation with partners; the rich activities and important speeches of the Prime Minister have highlighted the image of Vietnam as a country of innovation, proactive international integration, and a responsible member in the region and the world./.