Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính at the 14th ASEAN-United Nations Summit in Vientiane on October 11. VNA/VNS Photo

 VIENTIANE - Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, leading a high-level delegation from Việt Nam, participated in the 19th East Asia Summit (EAS) and 14th ASEAN-United Nations Summit in Vientiane on October 11, marking the conclusion of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related events.

At the 19th EAS, participating nations agreed to closely coordinate and effectively implement the EAS Plan of Action for 2024-2028. Key areas of focus include climate change response, disaster management, energy transition, resilient supply chains, maritime cooperation, healthcare, and education. They also emphasised the importance of new growth drivers such as innovation, digital transformation, and the green economy, alongside the effective implementation of free trade agreements, notably the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The summit also discussed pressing international and regional issues, emphasising that peace, security, and stability are essential for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development. Partners expressed their support for ASEAN’s balanced and objective stance on these matters.

In his remarks, PM Chính highlighted the necessity for ASEAN and EAS partners to enhance dialogue, build strategic trust, minimise disagreements, respect differences, and work together on shared challenges. He emphasised the need to construct an open, inclusive, transparent ASEAN-centred structure that upholds international law, benefits all people, and ensures no one is left behind. He called on partners to support ASEAN’s centrality with concrete actions.

Recognising the EAS’s strengths, PM Chính urged it to lead in fostering new growth engines, prioritising cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green transition, and the circular economy. He also called for the summit to spearhead efforts in addressing global challenges, including population ageing, resource depletion, pandemics, climate change, and natural disasters.

Discussing regional issues, PM Chính emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and mutually beneficial development in the East Sea. He stressed the need for all parties to ensure aviation and maritime security in the waters, urging restraint, minimising disagreements, and promoting sincere, rules-based cooperation and dialogue. He called for the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the creation of a binding Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

At the 14th ASEAN-UN Summit, both sides reaffirmed the significance of their comprehensive partnership and the successful implementation of their 2021-2025 action plan, which has achieved a 90 per cent success rate. They agreed to develop a new action plan for 2026-2030 and align ASEAN’s 2025 Community Vision with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

During the summit, PM Chính called for strengthened coordination between ASEAN and the UN to tackle global challenges and contribute to green and sustainable development. He expressed gratitude for the UN’s prompt assistance in helping ASEAN countries recover from Typhoon Yagi and requested continued UN support for Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) nations in boosting their resilience to natural disasters, addressing climate change, and achieving a just energy transition.

Based on shared values of multilateralism and respect for international law, PM Chính emphasised the need for ASEAN and the UN to continue cooperating effectively and contribute to collective efforts to ensure global peace, security, and stability, particularly in Southeast Asia. VNS