Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the20th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 2

The eventformed part of the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-52) and Related Meetings that are underway inthe Thai capital from July 29 to August 3.

During themeeting, the FMs reaffirmed the important role of the ASEAN Plus Three in promoting peace,security, stability and prosperity in East Asia and acknowledged the  results of the implementation of the ASEANPlus Three Cooperation Work Plan for the 2018 – 2022 period.

Theyemphasised the need to have a free and fair multilateral trading system andvoiced their concern overaccelerating trade tensions and protectionism that may take a toll on economic development.

Theyreiterated the determinationto early conclude the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP) and agreed to enhance support for the development of micro-,small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

They alsoagreed to continue the effective implementation of the Chiang Mai InitiativeMultilateralization (CMIM) and strengthen the role of the ASEAN Plus Three Macroeconomic ResearchOffice (AMRO).

Additionally,the ministers welcomed the adoption of the Strategic Directions of ASEAN PlusThree Finance Process on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of ASEAN PlusThree Financial Cooperation.

Theyacknowledged recent positive progress of the settlement of issues on the KoreanPeninsula with the US – DPRK summits held in Singapore in June last year and inHanoi in Februrary this year and most recently, the meeting of US PresidentDonald Trump and DPRK chairman Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in the DPRK.

They voicedsupport for continued diplomatic efforts to promote sustainable peace and denuclearisation in the region.

In his remarksat the meeting, Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh said he welcomed efforts toexpand cooperation within ASEAN Plus Three in innovation-driven developmentareas, such as digital connectivity, e-commerce, and smart city, in order toreduce development gap.

He also applauded a closer partnership within the bloc inpromoting the development of the MSMEs, food security, and response to epidemics and natural disasters.

The minister affirmed that Vietnam will play an active part in fostering and promoting the roleof ASEAN Plus Three to contribute to peace, stability and development in EastAsia.-VNA