Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh has stated that the Special
ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting has agreed to set a long-term
vision to lift bilateral strategic partnership to a new height.
In an interview granted to the Vietnamese media in Beijing , China
on August 31, Deputy FM Vinh said the meeting is an important event to
mark the 10 th anniversary of the ASE AN-China strategic partnership
and roll out major orientations to further enhance their ties.
The two sides reached high consensus about the importance of furthering
the ASEAN-China relations, not only to their own interests but also to
common peace, stability and prosperity in the region, Vinh said.
He added that at the 16 th ASEAN-China Summit slated for October,
their leaders are due to adopt a Declaration on lifting their
partnership.
Furthermore, both parties shared the view that in
order to boost their relations, it is necessary to continue building
and strengthening strategic and mutual trust, thus laying a foundation
to expand and reinforce across-the-board cooperation, he said.
In addition, economics, trade and investment will be given priority,
with the goal of bringing two-way trade between ASEAN and China to
500 billion USD by 2015.
The deputy FM said the meeting put
forward several practical suggestions to boost cooperation in these
fields, including upgrading of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA),
faster realisation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP) and infrastructure and transport linkage.
Participants
also welcomed China ’s proposal on setting up a funding mechanism for
infrastructure proejcts, the Asia financial stabilisation fund and
the ASEAN-China marine cooperation fund. At the same time, the two sides
will continue to strengthen cooperation in the sub-region framework,
including the Mekong Sub-region.
Deputy FM Vinh said
ASEAN-China two-way trade turnover already reached 400 billion USD, and
at the current pace, the two sides are certain to achieve their 500
billion USD goal in 2015.
Last but not least, the two sides
agreed on the importance of building trust and ensuring peace and
security in the region, including the satisfactory setttlement of the
East Sea issue for the common objective of ensuring peace, stability,
maritime security and safety in the East Sea, resolving disputes
peacefully in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The diplomat said both sides
consented to conduct an official consultation at the first ASEAN-China
Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC)
in Suzhou , China on September 14-15.
It is an important
and active decision, Vinh noted, kick-starting the process of
negotiations and formulation of the COC between the two sides.
The deputy FM said the Vietnamese delegation to the meeting, led by
Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, had made several substantial proposals,
contributing to the success of the meeting.
He noted that
Vietnam vowed to further deepen the ASE AN-China strategic
partnership, with special importance attached to strengthening political
and mutual trust, thus laying a foundation to expand bilateral
cooperation in all fields.
The country also laid emphasis on
infrastructure and transport connectivity, saying that as a neighbouring
country of China , Vietnam is in a favourable situation to
connect China and the Greater Mekong Sub-region as well as the
entire ASEAN region.
At the same time, Vietnam called for
stronger cooperation to ensure peace, stability and security in the
region, including peace and maritime security and safety in the East
Sea . The country stressed that all parties should seriously adhere to
principles and commitments reached in the past, including the
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the
Joint Statement on the occasion of the DOC’s 10th anniversary, while
peacefully settling disputes in line with international law and the 1982
UNCLOS.
All other countries expressed approval of the speech
that Vietnam made on behalf of ASEAN, which emphasised that besides the
full implementation of the DOC, a COC should be put in place as soon as
possible to prevent conflicts and ensure that relevant parties behave in
line with international law and the UNCLOS, Deputy FM Vinh said./.