Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has successfully concluded his Indonesia visit to attend the 24th World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia on April 20-21 at the invitation of WEF President Klaus Schwab.

During the forum, the Deputy PM addressed the event’s plenary session and held separate meetings with other participants, the Deputy PM took part in discussions on Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV), the establishment of an agenda for ensuring food security and a retreat meeting of leaders, regional organisations and large businesses.

On the margins of the event, the Deputy PM joined meetings with a number of leaders, including Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla; Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich; WEF Executive Director Philipp Rosler; Deputy Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic and Cooperation Development (OECD), Mari Kiviniemi; Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President Stephen Groff; and US Pacific Commander Chief Harry Harris.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Phuc highlighted Vietnam’s responsible efforts and contribution to the building of the ASEAN Community as well as the fostering of ties with other countries and partners in the spirit of honesty and mutual trust to reinforce a regional environment of peace and stability. He also shared Vietnam’s experience in developing agriculture, ensuring national food security and contributing to maintaining global food security.

He clarified that all disputes at sea should be settled through peaceful methods in conformity with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Deputy PM also affirmed Vietnam’s determination to speed up economic restructuring, introduce market economy regulations and sign free trade agreements. He pointed out the potential and development opportunities available to the CLMV countries, especially now that sub-regional economic corridors are allowing easier transport, trade, investment and tourism connections.

During meetings with the Vietnamese delegation, participants at the forum declared their interest in collaborating with Vietnam. They lauded the country’s socio-economic growth and expressed belief in its investment prospects once FTA negotiations are concluded. They said they hope Vietnam continues improving its investment environment.

Indonesian Vice President Kalla pledged that his country will settle issues related to Vietnamese fishermen in a humanitarian spirit, while proposing both countries to increase joint patrols of their waters.

Themed “Anchoring Trust in East Asia's New Regionalism”, the event attracted more than 500 delegates from 40 countries, including a number of senior leaders and nearly 40 ministers and heads of international organisations like ASEAN, ADB and OECD.

More than 30 sessions at the event focused on the impacts the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community will have on the region. Participants discussed strategic competition, regional and national institutions, new economic forms and State-citizens relations.

Deputy PM talks with representatives of US Navy, ADB

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with a US Pacific Fleet officer and an Asian Development Bank (ADB) executive in Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 21, stressing Vietnam’s appreciation of its partnership with the two sides.

The meetings took place on the fringe of the ongoing World Economic Forum on East Asia.

Talking to Commander of the US Pacific Fleet Admiral Harry B. Harris, Deputy PM Phuc said Vietnam attaches special importance to its comprehensive cooperation with the US, adding that the two countries have established defence dialogues in line with their signed memorandum of understanding.

They have actively collaborated in war aftermath settlement and the United Nations’ peacekeeping activities. The two navies have also had practical and efficient affiliation, as evidenced by the latest visit to Vietnam by the US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and two naval vessels, the official noted.

Meeting with ADB Vice President Stephen Groff, Phuc expressed his delight at the developing cooperation between Vietnam and the bank and appreciated the ADB’s commitment to maintaining official development assistance provision for the Southeast Asian country.

The Vietnamese Government pledged to efficiently use the ADB’s support which has greatly contributed to local socio-economic development, especially infrastructure building, he said.

The country hopes to receive concessional loans of 350 million USD per year from the bank’s Asian Development Fund to facilitate economic restructuring and industrialisation, the Deputy PM noted, suggesting the ADB assist in environmental, climate change adaptation and social welfare issues.

He also spoke highly of the bank’s help in piloting public-private partnership (PPP) in Vietnam and hoped for further aid in this sphere, especially the bank’s experience in attracting private sector participation in PPP projects.

VNA