Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has called on ASEAN member states and the Republic of Korea (RoK) to cooperate with other Asian countries on sustainable development, saying that cooperation should be based on a healthy macro economy and traditional cultural values.
He made the call at the ASEAN-RoK Commemorative Summit held on Jeju island on May 31-June 2, where participants discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, particularly the global economic crisis, food and energy security, environmental degradation, climate change and the threat of natural disasters.
They all agreed on the importance of having flexible financial policies and stimulus packages, while avoiding the adoption of protectionism.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a special summit marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN-RoK partnership, the Prime Minister stressed that Vietnam and ASEAN have always attached great importance to boosting relations with the RoK at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
He said ASEAN and the RoK should strengthen their comprehensive partnership and increase cooperation for mutual benefit and suggested the two sides commit more resources to implement previously reached agreements and focus on strengthening links in trade, investment, tourism and transportation.
The Government leader asked the RoK to continue approving practical measures to help ASEAN implement its plans to build an ASEAN economic community and to narrow the gap between ASEAN members.
At the summit, ASEAN and RoK economic ministers signed an ASEAN-RoK Investment Agreement and finalized details of the ASEAN-RoK Free Trade Area.
Earlier, during his May 28-31 official visit to the RoK, Prime Minister Dung and his RoK counterpart Han Seuy-soo witnessed the signing of an agreement on transfer of prisoners; a (revised) framework agreement on non-refundable aid; a cooperation agreement on food safety; a cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the RoK Ministry of Labor; and a cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese Government Office and the RoK Ministry of Administrative Affairs and Public Security on a project to build the Vietnamese Government’s e-information and data center.
Other cooperation agreements signed between businesses of the two countries were in the domains of railways, thermo-power, steel rolling, finance, and credit provision.-