Attending the 21st ASEAN Summit’s plenary session in Phnom Penh on November 18, PM Nguyen Tan Dung mentioned ASEAN’s many important issues in his speech.
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The plenary session of the 21stASEAN Summit, Phnom Penh, November 18, 2012 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
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The Vietnamese PM highly spoke of ASEAN’s efforts in building the Economic Community, with over 72% of the set norms have been fulfilled.
However, there are a lot of tasks to be done in the time to come, said PM Dung.
He urged ASEAN members to maintain solidarity and its central role in dealing with issues related to the Association’s interests and cooperation focus, especially peace, security, cooperation and development in the region. This is an important condition to build up the ASEAN Community by 2015, he asserted.
According to PM Dung, ASEAN needs to continue the implementation of free trade agreements (FTAs) signed with partners while preparing for negotiations on the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP), paying attention to narrowing the gap of development within ASEAN in order to promote sustainable and equal development as well improve the region’s competitiveness.
ASEAN should play a central role in enhancing dialogues, building confidence, sharing standards of conduct, and utilizing the existing tools for political-security cooperation, such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), ASEAN’s six-point principle on the East Sea, Declaration of the East Asia Summit on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), suggested PM Dung. He also proposed ASEAN to further step up cooperation in non-traditional security issues and emerging challenges, such as terrorism, trans-national crimes, water security, and maritime safety.
Mentioning the construction of the ASEAN Social-Cultural Community, PM Dung stressed the necessity to concentrate on three priorities: (1) guaranteeing equal development and social security; (2) protecting environment and responding to climate change; and (3) managing natural disasters.
The Vietnamese leader applauded ASEAN’s adoption of the ASEAN Statement on Human Rights, describing it the first political document of the group to enhance human rights cooperation in the region in conformity with goals and principles outlined in the ASEAN Charter.
Regarding the Master Plan on ASEAN connectivity (MPAC), PM Dung highly valued advancements in three areas of infrastructure, institutions and people-to-people.
To step up the realization of the MPAC, he suggested, it is necessary to mobilize all resources within and outside ASEAN while strengthening close collaboration between relevant agencies and the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Council (ACCC).
The Vietnamese PM also welcomed the ASEAN Global Dialogue held on the occasion of the 21st Summit, saying it is a good chance for ASEAN and its partners to discuss cooperation in settling global issues like economic crisis, energy security, food security, and sustainable development.
PM Dung thanked ASEAN leaders for approving Viet Nam’s nomination of its Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh to ASEAN Secretary-General in the term of 2013-2017.
With his experience, enthusiasm and dedication, Mr. Minh will continue achievements made by the predecessor, Mr. Surin Pitsuwan, and contribute to ASEAN’s development, said PM Dung.