(VOVworld) – On Tuesday leaders attending the special ASEAN-US Summit discussed issues on the theme: “Promoting Regional Prosperity through Innovation and Entrepreneurship.” Chairing the event, President Obama said the US attaches great importance to its relations with ASEAN and supports ASEAN’s central role in the regional structures being shaped. He said Washington and ASEAN countries should continue to promote economic and trade ties.

In his address, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that as an active and responsible member of ASEAN, Vietnam had contributed significantly to the formation of the ASEAN Community and the region’s prosperity. After 30 years of renewal, Vietnam has seen important achievements in socio-economic development and has balanced economic growth with social progress and fairness. In the coming period, Vietnam will carry out comprehensive, synchronous reforms and further integrate into the world economy with the ASEAN Economic Community, APEC, the TPP, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership being the key frameworks.

Stressing the strategic importance of ASEAN-US relations in regional peace, stability, and development, Prime Minister Dung said the two sides should effectively implement their cooperative programs, particularly the ASEAN-US action plan for the 2016-2020 period, and increase cooperation to help ASEAN develop a business environment favorable to innovation, creativity, and dynamism and increase capacity in information technology and sustainable growth.

Prime Minister Dung proposed the establishment of an ASEAN-US Center  to support business startups and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam to motivate innovation and strengthen links between ASEAN businesses.