Prime Minister: The immediate issue is to reduce trade friction as soon as possible.

On the morning of October 19, 2018, at the Europa Building in Brussels, Belgium, the 12th Asia-Europe Cooperation Forum (ASEM 12) Summit began its second day of work.

Under the chairmanship of European Council President Donald Tusk, the leaders held the first plenary session on “Building the Future Together: Fostering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable ConnectivityThe Leaders strongly supported promoting a rules-based, free, open, and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system, committed to combating all forms of protectionism, coordinating efforts to address risks to global economic growth, strengthening and reforming the WTO, and enhancing policy coordination with the G20 and OECD. The Conference agreed to strengthen ASEM cooperation on trade and investment, support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in participating in regional and global value chains, and promote cooperation in responding to challenges from the digital economy and e-commerce.

The conference also agreed to make connectivity a central focus of ASEM cooperation in the coming period, with six priority areas: policy connectivity, sustainable connectivity, trade and investment connectivity, digital connectivity, people-to-people connectivity, and connectivity related to security challenges.

Also on the morning of October 19th, at the second plenary session on “Strengthening the multilateral system: Promoting ASEM partnerships to address global challenges."The leaders affirmed that ASEM needs to play a foundational role in promoting the multilateral system and a rules-based international order. The meeting also agreed on many measures to strengthen ASEM cooperation in responding to increasingly acute global challenges, especially climate change, natural disasters, water resources, energy, social inequality, etc."

Later that day, ASEM leaders held a private session on "International and Regional Issues," focusing on issues related to peace, security, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, maritime security, the migration crisis, the Middle East and North Africa, the Korean Peninsula, Iran, and more. Many members expressed concern over developments affecting the security environment in Asia, including the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

The conference affirmed its commitment to maintaining peace and stability, ensuring maritime security and safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the spirit of full compliance with international law; peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with international law, especially the Charter of the United Nations and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); refraining from the use or threat of force; avoiding unilateral actions contrary to international law, especially UNCLOS; and implementing confidence-building measures and self-restraint.

Speaking at the session, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized that peace, cooperation, and development are the main currents of the times, but the international community is witnessing profound shifts and unprecedented challenges. The Prime Minister proposed that the immediate issue is to...reduce trade frictionIn order to continue the recovery momentum and ensure the bright prospects of the global economy, Vietnam supports all efforts of the international community in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law to find peaceful and sustainable solutions to conflicts and disputes in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, etc.

Vietnam and ASEAN countries have been closely coordinating with the international community, including ASEM members, to maintain peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded free trade in the South China Sea, a major international shipping lane connecting Asia, Europe, and the globe. Accordingly, it is necessary to persistently promote joint efforts, strengthen confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy; peacefully resolve disputes on the basis of international law, including UNCLOS; fully respect diplomatic and legal processes; and refrain from actions that could further complicate the situation. Vietnam proposes that all parties continue substantive negotiations to soon reach an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

After two days of intensive work, the 12th ASEM Summit concluded successfully on the afternoon of October 19, 2018. The Summit adopted the Chairman's Statement, affirming the determination of ASEM members to strengthen their partnership.
The Asia-Europe Summit aimed to address global challenges and set directions for enhancing ASEM cooperation in the future. The success of the Summit created new momentum for a dynamic and cohesive Asia-Europe partnership, thereby further affirming ASEM's important role in the evolving global landscape.

For Vietnam, in the context of comprehensive reform, deep international integration, and the promotion and enhancement of multilateral diplomacy, the ASEM Forum continues to be an important inter-regional cooperation mechanism to promote economic, development, and security interests and concerns, as well as to enhance the country's position.