Deputy PM praises ASEAN+3, East Asian Summit

The cooperation process between ASEAN and its three dialogue partners (ASEAN+3) and the East Asian Summit (EAS) Ministers Informal Consultations are a firm basis for the regional development, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said.

The Deputy PM’s remark was echoed by other Foreign Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and ASEAN’s partners (China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea) at the EAS Ministers Informal Consultations meeting in Singapore on July 22.

Deputy PM Khiem, who is also the country’s Foreign Minister, said EAS member countries should strengthen their cooperation in seeking ways to overcome the region’s ongoing difficulties relating to energy and food supply, disaster management, epidemic prevention and environment protection.

At the meeting, the EAS foreign ministers reviewed the implementation of decisions made at the ASEAN+3 Summit in November 2007, including the second-time declaration on cooperation in East Asia and the ASEAN+3 working plan from 2007-2017.

They reaffirmed their commitments to fostering the ASEAN+3 cooperation process, considering this a key tool for the long-term target of building the East Asian Community.

The ministers also praised results of the study on the establishment of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia and on the establishment of a Economic Research Institute for ASEAN, which were decided at the third East Asian Summit.

Deputy PM’s activities on sidelines of ASEAN meeting

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem had bilateral meetings with officials from China, Cambodia, Laos and Canada on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Singapore.

On July 22, Deputy PM Khiem, who is also Foreign Minister, met with Chinese FM Yang Jiechi to discuss bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern.

Minister Yang praised Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s visit to China in early June, saying it took bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership level.

He thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their assistance to earthquake victims in Sichuan province, and their cooperation in the Olympic torchlight procession in Ho Chi Minh City.

Minister Yang said Chinese leaders are paying attention to enhancing economic and trade ties with Vietnam.

The two officials discussed preparations for future visits by the two countries’ leaders. They agreed to push up the border demarcation and landmark plantation so that the task will be completed in the end of 2008 as agreed by the two countries’ leaders.

They jointly praised the two countries’ coordination at international and regional forums, and agreed to further close cooperation to contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world.

On July 21 and 22, Deputy PM Khiem had separate conversations with his Lao counterpart Thoonglun Sisulith, and Cambodian Secretary of State for the Foreign Ministry Kao Kim Hourn to discuss regional issues.

He also met with the Canadian Secretary of State for the Foreign Ministry on the two countries’ cooperation, particularly in economics.

They agreed to boost future bilateral ties, including Canada’s provision of official development assistance (ODA) capital and its acceptance of Vietnamese guest workers.