(VOVword) - Vietnam considered ASEAN external relations very important to build up the ASEAN Community and realize the 2025 Vision.

While addressing the 19^th ASEAN-Japan Summit in Laos on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the ASEAN-China relations have developed strongly for both sides’ benefit and for peace, security and prosperity. He called for more trade and investment cooperation between the ASEAN and Japan by early finalization of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement to double two way trade and investment by 2020. He praised the ASEAN and China’s agreement on a Conduct for Unplanned Encounters at Sea applied in the East Sea and asked for a conclusion of the Code of Conducts for Parties in the East Sea by 2017.