Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attends the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) with the US. Photo: VNA |
FM Son highlighted the important achievements of the EAS, while emphasising that through consultation, the EAS has contributed to promoting a culture of dialogue and collaboration as a means of increasing similarities, narrowing differences, and enhancing trust among countries.
He highly appreciated the commitments and support shown by partners for ASEAN, stressing that those commitments need to be expressed in actions, through both active participation and effective contributions to ASEAN-led mechanisms.
Applauding the strong co-operation results between the bloc and the US, FM Son affirmed that ASEAN will work closely alongside the US to bring the comprehensive strategic partnership to a substantive, effective, and mutually-beneficial development.
FM Son emphasised that priority should be given to promoting economics, trade, science and technology, innovation, and creativity as key areas and driving force for ASEAN-US co-operation.
At the meetings, FM Son affirmed ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea, asking partners to continue to support and make responsible contributions to ASEAN-led efforts in ensuring peace, security, and stability in the East Sea.
This is in addition to building an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),