Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and heads of delegations pose for a photo
at the opening ceremony of the 26th ASEAN Summit. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA
Addressing the plenary session, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that formation of the ASEAN community by the end of 2015 would be an historical milestone in the process of ASEAN connectivity and the outcome of continuous efforts for cooperation of member countries for nearly five decades, creating a firm foundation for the development of ASEAN.
He added that ASEAN completed most of the undertakings and the rest was not a lot but rather complicated with high integrity.While there is not much time left, member countries should give prominence to responsibility; harmoniously combining national benefits with common interests of ASEAN; and consolidating and unifying within the bloc for the target of ASEAN.
He also asserted that Vietnam has made great efforts and achieved important results in implementing the roadmap of building the ASEAN community, including activities hosted by Vietnam, and proactively adjusted domestic regulations to implement commitments within ASEAN.
He emphasised the importance of building the ASEAN Community's post-2015 vision for the development of the association and gave strategic orientations for building the vision. Under which, the vision should comply with the basic principles of ASEAN; inherit and bring into full play achievements and outcomes of implementing the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015); develop ASEAN connectivity more deeply and widely; devise measures to strengthen unification and promote ASEAN’s central role, especially in maintaining peace, security and development in the region and ensure ASEAN’s role in solving regional issues and the formingof a regional structure; direct to the people and create conditions for the people to be the subject of the process of building the community.
He underlined that ASEAN should continually promote diplomacy ties and strengthen its central role, promote dialogues and cooperation to respond to the challenges of economics, security and non-traditional security.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attends the plenary session of the 26th ASEAN Summit. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA
The plenary session of the 26th ASEAN Summit. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA
He also applauded the speech by the Malaysian Prime Minister as the 2015 chair of ASEAN at the opening session and shared his opinions and concerns over exiting activities and large-scale encroachment activities in the East Sea as well as their corollaries. He spoke of the importance of complying with the principles of self-restraint, not further disturbing the situation and resolving disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, strictly and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties and the early approval of COC.
Earlier, speaking at the opening ceremony of the summit, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak stressed that while continually promoting cooperation with countries outside the bloc, ASEAN should solve disputes by peaceful means, including the resettlement of announcements on sea sovereignty without making the situation tenser.
Prime Minister Najib said that recent happenings have caused concerns over the East Sea and because of the importance of marine routes for international trade, it is inevitable that all happenings in the East Sea will draw much attention. ASEAN should actively and proactively solve these happenings with a constructive spirit.
He emphasised the respect for international law, including the UNCLOS 1982, which served as the basis for regulations of participation and activities in the East Sea.
Being the chair of ASEAN, Malaysia hopes that SEAN will make progress with efforts to quickly complete COC.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA
Prime Minsiter Nguyen Tan Dung meets with Philippino President Benigno Aquino. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA
Prime Minsiter Nguyen Tan Dung meets with Philippino President Benigno Aquino. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA
By VNA/VNP
