ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi (R) and Vietnamese Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh

Talking to the Vietnam NewsAgency correspondents in Indonesia on the occasion of the ASEAN’s 52nd founding anniversary (August 8), the Secretary General suggested Vietnam focuson continuing the grouping’s agenda such as promoting sustainable developmentand coping with climate change.

He also asked Vietnam to promoteintra-bloc cooperation, and pay attention to personnel management andcooperation.

The ASEAN Secretariat iscommitted to coordinating closely with Vietnam to build the agenda for nextyear, the Secretary General said, adding that he plans to visit Vietnam inAugust to discuss plans. He expressed his belief that Vietnam will perform wellas ASEAN Chair in 2020 and make positive contributions to promoting the ASEANEconomic Community.

Highlighting the bloc’sdevelopment history, he said ASEAN has become of the important regional forum,and with its success in maintaining peace, stability and development, thegrouping has great appeal to powers in and outside the region.  

Lim Jock Hoi affirmed that ASEANis doing well in maintaining general peace and stability, and making positivecontributions in all cooperation aspects, adding that the most important thingis ASEAN has been able to maintain cooperation in a way that produced goodoutcomes and build trust among member countries.            

Regarding the trade war betweenthe US and China, the ASEAN official said both economies are partners of ASEANand any dispute between them would affect the grouping. Therefore, ASEAN wishesto help with the removal of trade obstacles between the two sides, he said.-VNA