(VOV) – ASEAN-RoK relations have seen fine development as they share cultural and historical similarities and foster mutual political trust for peace, stability, cooperation and development, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
PM Dung made his remarks at the opening of the commemorative summit marking the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-RoK Dialogue Relations in Busan on December 12.
The summit adopted the joint statement on ASEAN-RoK future vision and orientations in all fields, including politics, security, economics, culture and society for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.
Dung and other ASEAN leaders appreciated active cooperation of the RoK in building the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), aimed at increasing connectivity, narrowing development gap and responding to common challenges in the region.
For her part, RoK President Park Geun-hye emphasized that ASEAN is highly prioritised in the RoK’s external relations. She voiced her continuous support for the building of the AEC and post-2015 development orientations, as well as the key role of ASEAN in regional structure and the regional bloc’s common values in East Asia.
PM Dung affirmed that ASEAN and the RoK should foster cooperation and mutual support to ensure peace, stability and security in the region in accordance with ASEAN-led existing cooperation mechanisms. Bilateral economic ties have been constantly promoted by maximising the ASEAN-RoK Free Trade Agreement, completing negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement by the end of 2015, promoting development in infrastructure, human and institution, and dealing with emerging non-traditional security challenges, particularly in the Mekong sub-region.
Regarding regional issues, Dung attached importance to building mutual trust in order to maintain regional peace and stability.
The Vietnamese government leader stressed that recent disputes over sovereignty in the East Sea show the need to maintain peace, stability, and maritime safety and security in the region. All concerned parties should follow international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon reach the Code of Conduct on the East Sea (COC). They should not use or threat to use armed forces, which may result in increased tension in the East Sea. This is an effective solution to build trust and contribute to ensuring peace, stability and security in the region, Dung noted.
The PM and RoK and,other ASEAN leaders agreed to early develop an Action Plan for the 2016-2020 period, and the implementation of prioritised projects for mutual benefits.
They laid the emphasis on maximising the ASEAN-RoK FTA, with a view to achieving a two-way trade turnover of US$150 billion in 2015 and US$200 billion in 2020, concluding RCEP agreement negotiations by the end of 2015, boosting cultural, sports and people-to-people exchange, particularly among youths, and promoting citizen protection and human resource development.
ASEAN leaders welcomed the RoK’s proposal on establishing an ASEAN-RoK Cultural House in 2017 – the year of ASEAN-RoK cultural exchange.
They compared notes on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and discussed measures to cope with epidemics, environment pollution, and natural disasters.
After the summit, PM Dung viewed an exhibition on ASEAN- RoK public administration. He also visited the Busan-Jinhae free economic zone (BJFEZ) – one of the first three free economic zones in the RoK – before he left Busan, successfully ending his official visit to the RoK at the invitation of President Park Geun-hye.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
