(VOVWORLD) - ASEAN is willing to act as a trusted intermediary in consultations and dialogues with the EAS partners to seek effective, sustainable and long-term solutions to current security challenges, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, enhanced understanding, trust, dialogue and cooperation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at the 17th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Sunday.
 PM Pham Minh Chinh at the 17th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 13, 2022. (Photo: VGP) |
He stressed the need to prioritize promoting economic recovery based on sustainable development, open trade and smooth supply chains.
Mr. Chinh called on countries to urgently open their markets and create favorable conditions for the flows of goods and services, intensify integration, address disrupted supply chains, contribute to the promotion of multilateralism, and free, fair and inclusive trade.
He suggested the EAS partners support ASEAN's efforts to promote digital and green transformation, develop the circular economy, and ensure food, energy and cyber security.
PM Chinh affirmed ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) and called on countries to work together to build the East Sea into a region of peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development, and peacefully settle conflicts.
He urged the international community and EAS countries to support efforts to soon achieve an effective, efficient, fair and reasonable Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) for all concerned parties, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Vietnamese leader also suggested the EAS partners to back ASEAN in implementing the Five-Point Consensus and assist Myanmar in finding solutions to stabilize the situation.