Prime Minister: The immediate problem is to quickly reduce trade friction.

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

Chaired by European Council President Donald Tusk, leaders held their first plenary session on “Building the Future Together: Promoting Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Connectivity”. The Leaders strongly supported the promotion of a rules-based multilateral trading system, free, open and non-discriminatory trade, committed to combating all forms of protectionism, coordinating 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 promote ASEM cooperation on trade and investment, support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in regional and global value chains, and promote cooperation to respond to challenges from the digital economy and e-commerce.

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

Also on the morning of October 19, at the second plenary session on "Strengthening the multilateral system: Promoting ASEM partnership to respond to global challenges”, the leaders affirmed that ASEM needs to promote its fundamental role in promoting the multilateral system and international order based on rules. The meeting also agreed on many measures to enhance ASEM cooperation to respond to increasingly severe global challenges, especially climate change, natural disasters, water resources, energy, social inequality, etc.

At noon on the same day, ASEM leaders held a separate session on “International and regional issues”, focusing on discussing issues related to peace, security, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, maritime security, immigration crisis, Middle East-North Africa, Korean Peninsula, Iran, etc. Many members expressed concern about developments affecting the security environment in Asia, including the East Sea and the East China Sea.

The conference affirmed its commitment to maintaining peace, stability, ensuring maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation and aviation 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, not taking unilateral actions contrary to international law, especially UNCLOS, as well as implementing measures to build trust and self-restraint.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized that peace, cooperation and development are the main trends of the times, but the international community is witnessing profound changes and unprecedented challenges. The Prime Minister proposed that the immediate issue is to soonreduce trade frictionto continue the recovery momentum and ensure bright prospects for 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 aviation, and unimpeded free trade in the East Sea, which is a major international shipping route, connecting Asia-Europe and global trade. 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 may further complicate the situation. Vietnam calls on the parties to continue substantive negotiations to soon reach an effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

After two days of intensive work, on the afternoon of October 19, 2018, the 12th ASEM Summit ended successfully. The conference adopted the Chairman's Statement, affirming the determination of ASEM members to strengthen partnership.
Asia-Europe aims to respond to global challenges, and at the same time set out directions to enhance ASEM cooperation in the coming time. The success of the Summit has created new momentum for the dynamic and cohesive Asia-Europe partnership, thereby continuing to affirm the important role of ASEM in the evolving situation.

For Vietnam, in implementing comprehensive innovation, deep international integration, promoting and elevating 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 enhance the country's position.