Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyễn Quốc Dũng in an interview with the press. — VNA/VNS Photo

MANILA – The Vietnamese delegation, led by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, made important contributions to the success of the 30th ASEAN Summit, which took place in the Philippines on April 29 and 30.

The statement was made by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyễn Quốc Dũng in an interview with the press.

According to the official, from the preparation phase, Việt Nam coordinated with the Philippines and other ASEAN countries in prioritising themes for ASEAN Year 2017 proposed by the host country, as well as putting forward general documents and contents to be discussed at the summit.

Việt Nam also fulfilled its role as the Chair of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration Task Force and the coordinator for the ASEAN-India dialogue partnership, while contributing constructive ideas during discussions on the basis of upholding ASEAN solidarity and fostering the development of a strong ASEAN Community, Dũng said.

To build a strong ASEAN Community, Prime Minister Phúc stressed the need to give priority to meeting people’s interests and building a people-centric ASEAN. The Government leader emphasised the necessity of reforms and the continued implementation of measures to improve operations and boost intra-bloc cooperation and regional connectivity.

PM Phúc also discussed measures to deal with non-traditional security challenges such as climate change and piracy, while expressing concern over the accelerating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and in the East Sea and East China Sea. He stressed the need for ASEAN to uphold basic principles and a common stand in tackling disputes by peaceful means and in compliance with international law, stated Dũng.

The deputy foreign minister also told reporters that on the sidelines of the 30th ASEAN Summit, PM Phúc had bilateral meetings with leaders of Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei, Thailand and the Philippines. During the meetings, the Government head exchanged opinions on the fields in which Việt Nam needs to intensify cooperation with these countries, and proposed several solutions to existing difficulties, he added.

The diplomat said that during the ASEAN Summit and related meetings, PM Phúc and leaders of ASEAN member states focussed on three main issues: the building of the ASEAN Community, ASEAN’s external relations and regional and global situations.

The leaders once again stressed the importance of solidarity and the central role of ASEAN in the evolving regional architecture, considering it a decisive factor to maintaining and promoting the group’s role in the region and the world.

They also stressed that ASEAN should have a strong voice and contribute practically to peace, security and stability in the region and the world in the context of complicated regional and global situations. They showed concern over recent developments in the East Sea, Dũng said, adding that they affirmed ASEAN’s common stance of upholding the peaceful settlement of disputes, strictly and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and working towards the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). — VNS