US. Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during a bilateral meeting in Washington, DC, United States on May 13, 2022. - Reuters
HANOI, May 14 (Bernama): Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has expressed his optimism for breakthroughs to be achieved in the Asean-US strategic partnership.
Speaking at a banquet for Asean leaders hosted by US President Joe Biden in Washington D.C. on Thursday (local time), Chinh pledged that Vietnam will make more active contributions to advancing the relationship, for peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.
He described the significance of the Asean-US Special Summit as demonstrating the two sides’ commitments to working together towards common peace, stability and prosperity, reported Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
Over the past 45 years, Asean and the US have actively coordinated on the basis of respect for law and Asean’s centrality, thus building a foundation for trust, and building an open, transparent, inclusive regional structure in line with international law.
Chinh said the thriving economic, trade and investment ties have brought peoples of the two sides closer, and that it is time for Asean and the US to work on new milestones.
Regarding orientations for the relations, the PM suggested that maintaining peace and stability should be top of mind of ASEAN and the US, expressing his hope that the US will always support Asean’s centrality in processes in Asia-Indo-Pacific.
He also called for the US’s contributions to building new orientations for the Asean-led cooperation frameworks, and creating a balanced and harmonious environment in the region.
The leader called on the US to engage in sincere dialogues with Asean on the basis of trust and responsibility, and back the settlement of differences and disputes by peaceful measures, in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-East Asia (TAC).
Emphasising the need to restore trade and investment flows to create momentum for the time to come, he pledged that Vietnam will take the best measures to help US investors and firms quickly expand their operation in the country, and connect with the promising ASEAN market.
With its experience and resources, he said the US should support Asean in green, sustainable development, economic restructuring, technological application, digital transformation, renewable energy, and comprehensive, sustainable recovery efforts.
He said Asean hopes that the US will promote cooperation initiatives within the framework of the Mekong-US Partnership, contributing to ensuring development quality, equality and sustainability.
Leaders of both Asean and the US showed their support for the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership, and expressed their hope that the relationship will develop more substantively and effectively for mutual benefits.- Bernama
