(VOVworld) - Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh led a Vietnamese delegation at the 25^th ASEAN-US Dialogue held in Manila, in the Philippines on May 21 and 22. This is the annual ministerial level meeting and senior officials from both sides acknowledged the growing engagement between ASEAN and the US at multilateral and bilateral levels. They reviewed the outcomes of the decisions made at the 3^rd ASEAN-US Summit last November and joint projects within the ASEAN-US Action Plan for the period 2011-2015. Also debated was US-ASEAN Trade and Investment. The US reiterated its policy of having strong attachments with the Asia Pacific region through bilateral and multilateral frameworks. The United States highly praised ASEAN’s central role in the region, saying it attaches a great deal of importance to its relations with ASEAN and will support the bloc creating an ASEAN Community by 2015.  

Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh

Both delegations exchanged views on regional and international developments, and discussed ways to increase cooperation with ASEAN’s political-security, economic, and sociocultural sectors. They also stressed the significance of ensuring maritime security and freedom and settling disputes peacefully in accordance with international laws and the 1982 UNCLOS.

On addressing the talks, Deputy Minister Pham Quang Vinh highlighted ASEAN’s efforts to build a community and boost regional links for the common goals of peace, stability and development. He suggested both prioritize cooperating in economics, trade, investment, science and technology, education, as well as cooperating closely in regional forums to lift the ASEAN-US strategic partnership to new heights.