Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived in Ha Noi on 15 November, concluding successfully his fresh trip to the 31^st ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines, at the invitation of the host’s President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (4th left) at the signing ceremony of ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (Photo VNA)

The PM got involved in nearly 30 bilateral and multilateral activities while attending the summit and relevant events from 12-14 November.  His participation demonstrated Viet Nam’s active and responsible contributions to building an ASEAN of peace, stability and self-reliance and a region open to extra-bloc countries.

On 14 November, PM Phuc and leaders from other ASEAN countries joined the signing of 'ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers'.

He also engaged in discussions of measures to implement more effectively the ASEAN Community Vision through 2025 and improve the bloc’s operational efficiency as well as exchanged regional and international issues.

Speaking at meetings, PM Phuc urged ASEAN to pay more attention to the benefits of people and the building of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and development of enterprises through increasing intra-bloc economic links and mutual assistance.

He suggested promoting the central role and position of the bloc in the international arena and striving for regional peace, security and prosperity.

The PM affirmed Viet Nam’s determination and commitment to join hands with other members to build a strong, self-reliant and people-centred community.

He also shared Viet Nam’s stance in regional and international issues of mutual concerns, including the recent developments in the East Sea.

He said documents adopted at this year’s summit must fully reflect principles and viewpoints as stipulated in the Joint Communiqué of the 50^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which are ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; addressing disputes via peaceful measures in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS); respecting legal and diplomatic processes; and implementing comprehensively and seriously the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

The PM welcomed ASEAN’s and China’s adoption of a framework for the Code of Conduct in the East Sea and stressed the need to promote negotiations for a feasible and legally-binding COC.

Viet Nam hopes ASEAN partner countries will continue contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea in the spirit of respecting international law, including the UNCLOS 1982, he said.

On the occasion, the PM met with his Cambodian and Lao counterparts, held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and hosted UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and President of the European Council Donald Tusk, to exchange measures to step up bilateral cooperation.

(Source: VNA)