VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has made important contributions to implementing ASEAN priorities, including building the ASEAN Community, strengthening ASEAN connectivity and expanding the association’s foreign relations.

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. (Source: VNA)
The statement was made by Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in a press interview on November 19 as Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Bali after attending the 19th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

Minister Minh said that at the summits, the Vietnamese delegation made proposals on strengthening the core role of ASEAN in the evolving regional structure and coordinating viewpoints at international forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the G20, and the UN, as well as deepening relations between ASEAN and its partners, thus contributing to peace and stability, strengthening regional links, narrowing development gaps and boosting sustainable development in sub-regions such as the Mekong Sub-region.

Vietnam also called on the region to join hands with other countries for peace, maritime security, safety and freedom in the region and in the East Sea, which are common concerns and interests among the region and related countries.

The Vietnamese also delegation discussed issues of mutual concern with Mekong countries Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, including boosting sustainable development and the use, protection and management of Mekong River water resources, the minister said.

As the coordinator for dialogues at the ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit, Vietnam, together with the other ASEAN countries and China, contributed to further strengthening the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership as well as coordinating activities to mark the 20th anniversary of ties between the two sides.

ASEAN and China should continue following the 2011-2015 Plan of Action, including fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards establishing a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

PM Dung also met with leaders of many countries to discuss bilateral ties and issues of common interest on the sidelines of the summits. 

Minister Minh said the 19th ASEAN Summit and related meetings  that took place in Bali , Indonesia, on November 17-19 focused on accelerating building the ASEAN Community as well as regional connectivity and expanding and deepening relations between ASEAN and its partners.

They also discussed regional and international issues of common concern, particularly those related to peace, security and cooperation in coping with emerging challenges such as natural disasters, climate change, maritime security and transnational crime.

* Hanoi hosts 8th CSCAP General Conference

The 8th General Conference of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) is being held in Hanoi from November 21-22 to discuss traditional and non-traditional threats and challenges to peace and stability in the Asia- Pacific region.

The event attracts more than 300 delegates, including scholars, researchers, experts and 150 representatives from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, ASEAN, the US, Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India.

The conference takes place in the wake of 19th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Bali, Indonesia under which a regional security structure has taken shaped with the participation of Russia and the US in the sixth East Asia Summit (EAS) for the first time.

In the face of unpredictable fluctuations in the world, the Asia-Pacific region is seeking effective ways to cope with more risks and challenges to maintain an environment of peace and stability.

During the two-day conference, delegates will also touch upon issues related to weapons of mass destruction, maritime security, network security, water sources security, responsibilities for protecting people, and the situation on the Korean Peninsular.

They will evaluate the efficiency of mechanisms for regional security cooperation and propose measures to promote cooperation mechanisms for ensuring an environment of peace and security in the Asia- Pacific region.

The CSCAP- a semiofficial security organization- was established in 1993 with the aim of promoting confidence building in the region through consultancy dialogues and cooperation.

The organization encompasses 21 full members, including 8 ASEAN member countries (exclusive of Laos and Myanmar), China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK), the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Mongolia, India, the US, the EU, Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, and the Indian Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) (associate member).

VietNamNet/VOV/VNA