Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the ASEAN Summits with Japan, the US and Canada in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 12.
Japan, the US, and Canada stressed that they treasures relations with ASEAN; pledged to continue assisting the bloc in the community building and regional integration; supported ASEAN’s centrality; and promised to make responsible and constructive contributions to ASEAN’s efforts to effectively respond to common challenges and promote the building of an open, inclusive, and transparent regional architecture that upholds international law. At the 25th ASEAN - Japan Summit, the ASEAN leaders and Japanese PM Kishida Fumio applauded the strides in bilateral relations, noting that economic cooperation is a bright spot in the region’s recovery and sustainable development efforts. PM Kishida emphasised that Japan attaches importance to the almost-five-decade partnership with ASEAN; backs the association’s solidarity and centrality in the regional architecture as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP); and pledges to continue active participation in and effective contributions to the ASEAN-led mechanisms. PM Chinh highly valued the importance of ASEAN’s relations with Japan – the first partner of the bloc, noting that their close and fruitful ties have become a role model of ASEAN’s cooperation with partners and substantially contributed to peace, security, stability, and prosperous development of each side and the region as a whole. Regarding orientations for bilateral relations in the coming time, he stressed that economic, trade, and investment partnerships should be the basis, momentum, and priority amid the post-pandemic recovery. The governments of the ASEAN countries have been creating optimal conditions for Japanese enterprises and investors to stabilise and expand production and business activities, especially in supporting industries and high-tech industry. They also hoped that Japan will facilitate Vietnam and ASEAN’s export of farm produce, and the diversification of supply chains, he added. Proposing the two sides boost green, digital, and circular economy development, he expressed his hope that Japan will help ASEAN step up just energy transition, effectively respond to climate change, develop strategic infrastructure, reinforce trading connectivity, and guarantee financial, energy, and food security. The Vietnamese leader also recommended Japan and ASEAN to promote people-to-people ties, cultural exchanges, and tourism; pay more attention to high-quality human resource development; and provide favourable conditions for workers and apprentices from Vietnam and other ASEAN countries to work in the Northeast Asian nation.
