Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 24, 2021. (Photo: VNA)

In an interview with the media, Mr. Dung said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s opinions and proposals received great support from other ASEAN leaders because they reflected ASEAN’s current concerns and priorities - COVID-19 control, economic recovery, and responding effectively to new issues.

PM Chinh took the occasion to promote the achievements of Vietnam’s 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, and integrate Vietnam’s interests in the East Sea and the Mekong River with ASEAN’s cooperation orientations.

He said trust and goodwill should be reflected in real actions and in avoiding actions that might escalate tensions or complicate the situation.

PM Chinh noted that ASEAN should maintain its principled stance on the East Sea, including maintaining peace, stability, security, and safety of navigation and overflight; complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); seriously implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and soon finalising an efficient and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

Deputy Foreign Minister Dung said that the Vietnamese PM’s proposals of ways ASEAN can assist Myanmar have many things in common with other ASEAN leaders’ opinions. ASEAN is sending representatives to Myanmar to study the situation, meet the oppsoing parties, promote dialogue, seek solutions, and facilitate humanitarian aid.