Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính attends the virtual ASEAN-RoK Summit on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính said Việt Nam applauded and supported the Republic of Korea (RoK) in implementing its enhanced New Southern Policy, promoting cooperation with the region for targets towards people, peace and prosperity.

The Government leader made the statement while addressing the virtual ASEAN-RoK Summit on Tuesday.

He said that over the past three decades, ASEAN-RoK relations had developed strongly and gained many important and practical results, contributing to peace, security and prosperity in the region.

PM Chính spoke highly of the RoK’s financial assistance worth US$30 million to support ASEAN’s efforts in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. He also thanked the RoK for its recent contribution of an additional $5 million to the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund and donated 1.1 million doses of vaccine for Việt Nam.

As the coordinator for the ASEAN-RoK relationship, PM Chính suggested  strengthening efforts to effectively control the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the success of the cooperation goal for the people and for prosperity.

With the RoK’s plan to become a vaccine production centre in the region, he proposed the RoK and the ASEAN to actively coordinate to form an autonomous COVID-19 vaccine supply chain in the region, tapping the resources and the strengths of the two sides.

“We affirm commitment of the governments of ASEAN countries to create favourable conditions and support the business community to maintain stable production and business, thus making effective contribution to the recovery process and sustainable development,” he said.

The PM also suggested the two sides continue creating conditions for entrepreneurs, investors, experts and skilled workers to travel but must ensure medical requirements.

With its strength in terms of digital technology and digital economy, ASEAN hoped to get support from the RoK to speed up the digital transformation process to help contribute to the pandemic control and recovery process, he said.

As an active partner supporting ASEAN in sustainable development and narrowing development gap, ASEAN wished the RoK to continue these efforts, he said.

He suggested ASEAN and the RoK continue coordinate and contribute to efforts to cope with security threats in the region.

Accordingly, PM Chính supported and proposed the summit adopt the joint declaration on enhancing the ASEAN-RoK cooperation. — VNS