VietNamNet Bridge – Leaders of the ASEAN countries met yesterday, Oct 29, with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Ha Noi to welcome the ASEAN-UN Special Partnership.

Leaders of ASEAN countries and China, South Korea and Japan attend the 13th ASEAN Plus Three Summit chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. (Photo: VNS)

The leaders noted the positive developments of the ASEAN-UN relationship over the past year. This year marks the 10th anniversary of both the implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the ASEAN-UN Summit. The realisation of the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN-UN Co-operation, especially the co-operation in helping Myanmar overcome the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, was praised at the meeting.

ASEAN showed their appreciation for the UN's assistance to ASEAN's community building and regional integration efforts. The regional leaders look forward to continued support from the UN to help implement the ASEAN Integration Work Plan, help the ASEAN Community realise the UN's MDGs, and build the region's ability to address global challenges, particularly those related to energy security, climate change and infectious disease.

The two sides agreed to realise the Framework for Joint Action 2011-12 and asked that both secretariats explore concrete measures for implementation. ASEAN and the UN will also maintain regular dialogue outside the annual UN General Assembly meeting.

The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues before adopting a joint press release on the outcome of the 3rd ASEAN-UN summit.

ASEAN Plus 3

ASEAN+3, comprised of ASEAN leaders and their three strategic partners, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, was thanked yesterday at their 13th summit for this year's achievements. In particular, ASEAN+3 was praised for effectively implementing the second Joint Statement on East Asia Co-operation.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung believes that ASEAN+3, which has been co-operating since 1997, has proven itself to be the most dynamic and effective mechanism in fostering co-operation and has served as the main vehicle for community building in East Asia.

The leaders decided to take practical measures to realize all agreements, particularly carrying out the ASEAN Plus Three Co-operation Work Plan, enhancing co-operation on financial-currency issues, and promoting co-operation in trade, investment, tourism, transportation, and infrastructure development through both bilateral and regional channels.

ASEAN and China also agreed to intensify co-operation in addressing global challenges, while increasing cultural exchange and person-to-person interaction to strengthen trust, understanding, and cohesion, and form a common identity for the region.

The leaders discussed regional and international issues of common interest, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and the ASEAN Chair's participation at both the upcoming G-20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea, and the COP-16 on Climate Change in Mexico.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chairman issued a statement citing all outcomes and decisions.

ASEAN-China

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday praised the ASEAN-China strategic dialogue as one of the most comprehensive of ASEAN's external relations, as China is now the region's largest trading partner.

Trade between ASEAN and China has reached US$200 billion and yesterday at the 13rd ASEAN-China Summit in Ha Noi with the participation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, the two sides planned to push that figured to $500 billion by 2015. China's investment in the region is expected to reach $10 billion in five years as the leaders committed to implementing the agreements of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

ASEAN and China will celebrate their 20th anniversary of dialogue relations next year during the ASEAN-China Exchange and Friendship Year.

The two sides were pleased with the implementation of the 2006-10 Plan of Action to realize the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, and adopted a new plan of action for 2011-15.

ASEAN and China will work to implement ACFTA and other related agreements with support from the Credit Facility worth $15 billion and the ASEAN-China Investment Co-operation Fund worth $10 billion, as well as the initiatives put forth by the Chinese Premier that focus on infrastructure development and connecting the region.

The leaders also adopted the ASEAN-China Leaders' Joint Statement on Sustainable Development and underscored the importance of continued dialogue and co-operation for peace, security and development. The two sides agreed to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and continue efforts to adopt a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, where disputes would be settled in conformity with international laws.

The leaders witnessed the launching of the ASEAN-China website that provides updated information on relations.

The Economic Ministers of ASEAN and China signed a trade agreement protocol to be enacted next year. Representatives of Chinese and ASEAN banks created a framework for establishing a China-ASEAN Inter-Bank Association.

ASEAN-Japan

In the meeting between ASEAN and Japanese leaders yesterday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung underlined the importance of the ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership as one of the most crucial external relations of ASEAN.

The 13th ASEAN-Japan summit, with the participation of Japanese PM Naoto Kan and ASEAN leaders, aimed to review and set out developmental directions for the ASEAN-Japan dialogue as well as allow leaders to exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest.

Dung reaffirmed that Viet Nam in particular and ASEAN in general looked forwards to the deepening of the comprehensive relationship between ASEAN and Japan, with a view to exploring potentials and turning co-operation into reality, contributing to the acceleration of wider regional integration in East Asia.

The leaders noted with satisfaction recent developments, including the implementation of an action plan to realise the Tokyo Declaration for the Dynamic and Enduring ASEAN-Japan Partnership in the New Millennium.

The ASEAN leaders said they appreciated Japan's active support for ASEAN's work on community building, narrowing the development gap and enhancing ASEAN connectivity. The regional leaders welcomed support from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund, in particular, with an emergency assistance of $62 billion to help ASEAN address the financial crisis.

At a time when concerns were growing in the region over the East Sea issue, leaders from both sides agreed to step up efforts to ensure a friendly and strategic partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The leaders tasked their ministers and senior officials to explore practical measures to promote and strengthen co-operation in trade and economics, sub-regional development and in dealing with global issues.

ASEAN-RoK

ASEAN leaders yesterday held a meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to review and map out future directions for the ASEAN-South Korean Dialogue Partnership.

The leaders welcomed South Korea's Initiative of a New Asia in which co-operation with ASEAN was a priority.

They agreed to boost their relations to a strategic partnership with the adoption of a Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.

An action plan to implement the Joint Declaration on the Comprehensive Co-operation Partnership for 2011-15 was adopted at the meeting.

On trade-economic co-operation, ASEAN and South Korea agreed to accelerate effective implementation of all agreements within the framework of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area and renewed their commitment to achieve the target of increasing two-way trade to US$150 billion by 2015.

South Korea's continued support for ASEAN's efforts in community building and narrowing the development gap was appreciated at the summit. South Korea's Initiative on Low-Carbon Green Growth for sustainable development was welcomed by ASEAN leaders.

ASEAN affirmed its support for dialogue and co-operation for peace, security and stability, as well as encouraged efforts towards resuming the six-party talks for the denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula. The region welcomed South Korea's assumption of the G-20 Chairmanship and appreciated its invitation for the ASEAN Chair to attend the G-20 Summit in Seoul this November.

Mekong-Japan

Leaders of Mekong region countries and Japan yesterday committed to further strengthen co-operation for a peaceful, stable and prosperous region during their second summit in Ha Noi.

A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting said the relationship and co-operation between Mekong region countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, and Japan gained remarkable achievements in various fields, including the strengthening of ties since the first Mekong-Japan Summit held in Tokyo in November 2009.

The leaders welcomed the significant progress of the implementation of the Tokyo Declaration and Mekong-Japan Action Plan 63 and other initiatives proposed by the Mekong region countries since the first summit. Projects implemented under Action Plan 63 focus on developing infrastructure and transport links.

The summit recognised the importance of human resource development in the Mekong region countries, especially at a time when rapid economic development required more and better trained human resources.

The leaders welcomed the ‘Decade Toward the Green Mekong' initiative and adopted its action plan. Leaders said they expected Mekong-Japan co-operation on the environment to be enhanced for the Mekong region to achieve its green target.

They also adopted the Mekong-Japan Economic and Industrial Co-operation Initiative Action Plan which focuses on hard infrastructure, trade facilitation/logistics and enhancement of small and medium enterprises.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News