According to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, negotiation and dialogue are the only way to bring lasting peace to the Middle East and all countries.
On the morning of October 20 (local time), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ASEAN and GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council) attended the first ASEAN - GCC Summit.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shakes hands with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman - host of the conference
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The leaders affirmed the importance of the relationship between the two regional organizations since the establishment of relations in 1990, based on the long-standing historical and cultural links spanning centuries.
ASEAN - GCC concerned about developments in Gaza Strip
ASEAN highly appreciated that all GCC member states have acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). At the same time, it welcomed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN from 2022.
Cooperation between ASEAN and the GCC in 2022 continued to progress positively, with total trade turnover reaching 142.25 billion USD, foreign direct investment reaching 523.46 million USD. The number of GCC tourists to the ASEAN region reached more than 375,000 people.
The leaders of the two sides agreed to maintain regular exchanges, and plan to periodically hold ASEAN-GCC summits every two years. In particular, focusing on economic, trade, investment cooperation, ensuring sustainable supply chains, connectivity, maritime cooperation, energy security, food, Halal industry, science - technology and innovation, tourism, labor cooperation, energy transition, climate change response, etc.
The countries also affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the region, and resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS Convention.
In particular, ASEAN and GCC countries expressed concern over recent developments in the Gaza Strip. They strongly condemned the acts of violence against civilians, called on all parties to immediately cease fire, end the use of force, respect international humanitarian law, and resume negotiations to resolve differences through peaceful means, on the basis of international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations. In order to achieve a fair, satisfactory and long-term solution to the Middle East peace process, ensuring the lives, security and safety of the people.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the Sultan of Brunei
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Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh assessed the conference as a historic milestone, as well as highly appreciated the role of the GCC in ASEAN. The Prime Minister emphasized that ASEAN and the GCC need to join hands to arouse the will of self-reliance, self-reliance, unleash development resources, and implement practical and effective actions...
The two sides need to create more favorable conditions for economy, trade and investment to become the main pillars and driving forces connecting the two regions, complementing each other for mutual development. At the same time, they need to promote cooperation for the goal of greener and more sustainable development.
Promote three connections
To do that, according to the Prime Minister, it is necessary to create conditions for investment funds and businesses of GCC countries to further expand their business investment in ASEAN. Support goods and services of ASEAN countries to appear more in the Gulf region. In addition, it is necessary to prioritize cooperation in developing green economy, digital economy, circular economy, sharing economy, sustainable agricultural development, energy conversion, etc.
Specifically, the head of the Vietnamese Government suggested promoting three connections: one is connecting people, culture, and labor; two is connecting trade, investment, and tourism; three is connecting infrastructure, through strategic infrastructure investment.
Besides, it is necessary to quickly institutionalize ASEAN - GCC cooperation through regular, substantive and effective cooperation mechanisms in each specific field.
Overview of the first ASEAN - GCC summit
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The Prime Minister suggested that as highly successful regional organizations, ASEAN and the GCC need to strengthen multilateral cooperation and support each other to promote their central roles and make practical contributions to peace, stability and development in the two regions and the world.
"Vietnam strongly opposes all acts of use of force and calls on relevant parties to immediately end acts of violence against civilians, humanitarian facilities and essential infrastructure. Only negotiation and mediation, resolving disagreements through peaceful means, and reaching a two-state solution on the basis of international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council are the only way to bring sustainable and long-term peace to the Middle East and all parties," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized.
The ASEAN - GCC Conference also adopted a joint statement, reflecting the results of the exchange of high-level leaders and setting out orientations for further development of bilateral relations in the coming time.
Thanhnien.vn
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