A meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Great Lakes Region in Africa on Tuesday. — Photo vov.vn

NEW YORK — Việt Nam and Indonesia have emphasised the need to prioritise promoting intra-regional co-operation in the Great Lakes region in Africa based on peace and stability goals and called for support from the international community for the region.

In a joint statement delivered at an in-person meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Great Lakes Region in Africa on Tuesday, the two ASEAN member nations highlighted the importance of implementing peace, security and co-operation agreements to address challenges in the region.

They agreed with the UNSC member nations in acknowledging co-operation efforts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and other countries in the region.

The statement stressed that the root causes of instability in the region must be addressed through strengthening conciliation and co-ordination in solving the illegal activities of armed groups, strengthening development co-operation and solving issues related to the management of natural resources.

At the meeting, Huang Xia, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary‑General for the Great Lakes region, updated participants on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for DR Congo and the region over the last six months.

Xia said that the Great Lakes countries maintain their commitments to strengthen co-operation and implement peace, security and cooperation agreements.

He mentioned difficulties facing the region’s socio-economic development amid the COVID-19 outbreak, saying the member nations have so far reported 750,000 COVID-19 cases and they are making every effort to contain the spread of the disease and address socio-economic impacts caused by the health crisis.

The 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework was signed by 13 countries in the Great Lakes region to maintain peace in DR Congo and the region. The agreement is sponsored by the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the Great Lakes region and the UN.

Indonesia and Việt Nam are both non-permanent members of the UNSC in 2020. The two countries have made several joint statements to promote ASEAN's voice and image since May. — VNS