>>Prime Minister arrives in US for special ASEAN-US summit
As a constructive and responsible member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam has exerted efforts to contribute to the ASEAN Community and regional development, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said at the US-ASEAN Leaders Summit that concluded on February 17 in California, the US.
 |
| Leaders of ASEAN member countries and the US pose a photo__Photo: VNA |
Through the two-day summit, Vietnam is expected to take advantage of the US’s cooperation and support in such spheres as economy, science-technology, education-training, people-to-people exchange, and handling of cross-border challenges.
Vietnam will be more active on the path to international integration and economic connectivity at different levels, including the ASEAN Economic Community, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Dung said.
He stressed the strategic significance of ASEAN-US relations and their trajectory toward peace, stability and development in the region, proposing that the parties should effectively realize the agreed cooperation programs, particularly the ASEAN-US Action Plan for 2016-20; increase cooperation and investment activities; and share start-up experience, knowledge and technology between ASEAN and US enterprises.
Parties would aim to build a regional business environment conducive to innovation and dynamism, and raise ASEAN firms’ capacity in information technology and sustainable development, the cabinet leader noted.
He also suggested the establishment of an ASEAN-US Center of Entrepreneurship and Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Development Support to be located in Vietnam.
During the summit, Prime Minister Dung, other ASEAN leaders and US President Barack Obama discussed how to promote regional prosperity through innovation and entrepreneurship and to protect peace, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific, as well as the regional strategic prospects.
The leaders stressed the significance of the ASEAN-US partnership, especially in promoting regional prosperity and handling transnational challenges.
They issued a joint statement which affirms key principles guiding the cooperation between the 10-member group and the US.
They expressed their hope to deepen collaboration with the US in various areas to take advantage of the country’s support to build a dynamic, open, competitive and connected economy and narrow the development gap.
 |
| Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the ASEAN-US Summit__Photo: VNA |
Dung expressed his deep concern over the recent complicated developments in the East Sea, proposing countries to prioritize building strategic trust, increasing dialogues and cooperation, abiding by international law, carrying forward the role played by the multilateral institution and supporting ASEAN’s decisive role in maintaining peace and security in the region.
He praised active support from the US and other partners for ASEAN’s stance in addressing regional security-related problems, including the East Sea issue.
Meanwhile, President Obama stressed that the US attached importance to its cooperation with the ASEAN and its member countries.
The US backs ASEAN’s central role in the regional evolving structure and wishes to cooperate with the group in settling regional and global issues like terrorism, extreme violence, human trafficking and climate change, Obama said.
The ASEAN-US Summit is the first between ASEAN and a partner country after the official formation of the ASEAN Community in last December, marking a new milestone in the strategic partnership between ASEAN and the US while reflecting ASEAN’s increasingly important role in the world arena.- (VNA/VLLF)
