Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung attends the 33rd ASEAN-Australia Forum on March 17, 2021. (Photo: VNA)

The Deputy Foreign Minister made this appeal while attending the 33rd ASEAN-Australia Forum which took place via videoconference on Wednesday. It was attended by Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Justin Hayhurst and other ASEAN SOM Heads.

Mr. Dung, on behalf of ASEAN, said ASEAN and Australia should coordinate the implementation of the agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), to maintain market openness, stabilize supply chain connections, support businesses, and speed recovery. He underscored the importance of dialogue, trust-building, and the rule of law amid complicated global and regional developments.