ID :
48372
Mon, 03/02/2009 - 07:52
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http://m.oananews.org//node/48372
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Vietnam makes practical contributions to ASEAN
Hanoi (VNA) - Since its participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) [in 1995], Vietnam has been actively making practical contributions to the furtherance of solidarity and sustainable development of the group.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement while talking with the Bangkok
Post newspaper of Thailand on the sideline of the 14th ASEAN Summit which was
held in Hua Hin from Feb. 28-March 1.
Regarding Vietnam 's changes over the past years, PM Dung said that Vietnam
has been actively carrying out its renewal process and has gained important results
in various fields, posting an annual economic growth rate of 7.5-8 percent.
The country has built up its relations with over 180 countries and partners across
all continents, and actively joined in activities of international and regional
organisations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Oganisation, the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
"All of these mirror Vietnam as a country of dynamic development, a trusted
friend and partner of all countries and nations for peace, stability and
development," the PM said.
Assessing the impacts of the current global financial crisis on ASEAN countries,
Dung said the crisis is quite different from the one in 1997, both in terms of its
nature and degree of impact, so the response to it and the recovery from its impact
requires stronger efforts from each nation as well as better cooperation among
nations, regionally and internationally.
He suggested that ASEAN countries continue to take measures to restore market
confidence and investors' trust, enhance information and experience-sharing in
responding to a crisis, foster the implementation of commitments and agreements on
economic, trade and investment cooperation to boost each member country's growth.
Regarding the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and other bilateral free trade
agreements between ASEAN and non-member partners, the PM said, "They will be one of
the solutions to boost two-way trading of commodities, create more attractiveness
and favourable conditions for foreign and intra-bloc investment in the region, and
help maintain a stimulus economic growth for each member."
Dung said he believed that the cooperation in trade, investment and financial
fields among ASEAN countries as well as between them and their partners within the
ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3 and East Asia Summit (EAS) would help ASEAN economies to weather
the global financial storm.
The Vietnamese government leader also praised the adoption of the ASEAN Charter,
saying it should be seen as a major event for the region.
"The document provides a firm legal framework instrumental to the association's
enhanced coherence and effectiveness," PM Dung said, adding that the charter would
definitely bring about practical benefits to ASEAN and its peoples.
Regarding the establishment of the ASEAN Human Rights Body (AHRB), a topic of great
interest, PM Dung affirmed Vietnam 's support to enhancing ASEAN cooperation in
all fields, including human rights.
He said, "the AHRB is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights, and it
must attend to the distinct characteristics and diversity of the region in terms of
culture, economics, society, customs and traditions."
"The AHRB should be encouraged to promote cooperation and work out a common
regional strategy and approach on human rights, creating a foundation to promote
cooperation to ensure and implement human rights in the best way possible in line
with the particularities of each country and of the region."
Regarding the bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand , the leader
said the two countries are close neighbours and have a long-lasting traditional
friendship, adding that over the past year the two have seen remarkable progress in
all areas of cooperation.
He asserted that Vietnam always attaches importance to its cooperation with
Thailand and other major rice exporters under bilateral and multilateral
frameworks.
According to him, the two countries currently are actively participating in a
cooperation framework of the five major rice exporters, which includes India ,
China , Pakistan , Thailand and Vietnam .
Under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS),
member countries are discussing an ACMECS rice cooperation mechanism to increase
the exchange of information and technical assistance, PM Dung said.
He went on to say that Vietnam and Thailand are also studying suitable ways
and means to enhance bilateral cooperation to secure the food security of each
country while protecting the interests of rice producers, traders and consumers.
Besides the bilateral cooperation, the two countries have also intensified their
cooperation in economic and trade fields with other neighbours, including Laos ,
Cambodia and Myanmar , to help these countries narrow the development gap with
other regional countries.
PM Dung suggested that in future the two countries further their comprehensive
cooperation, particularly in economics, trade, investment, national defence and
security in order together overcome the negative impacts of the on-going economic
crisis as well as the challenges of globalisation, thus contributing to the
sustainable development of each country.
In addition, he said, the two countries should closely cooperate with other ASEAN
members in building the ASEAN community for the development of each country, for
peace, stability and prosperity of the Southeast Asian region and the world at
large.-Enditem
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement while talking with the Bangkok
Post newspaper of Thailand on the sideline of the 14th ASEAN Summit which was
held in Hua Hin from Feb. 28-March 1.
Regarding Vietnam 's changes over the past years, PM Dung said that Vietnam
has been actively carrying out its renewal process and has gained important results
in various fields, posting an annual economic growth rate of 7.5-8 percent.
The country has built up its relations with over 180 countries and partners across
all continents, and actively joined in activities of international and regional
organisations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Oganisation, the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
"All of these mirror Vietnam as a country of dynamic development, a trusted
friend and partner of all countries and nations for peace, stability and
development," the PM said.
Assessing the impacts of the current global financial crisis on ASEAN countries,
Dung said the crisis is quite different from the one in 1997, both in terms of its
nature and degree of impact, so the response to it and the recovery from its impact
requires stronger efforts from each nation as well as better cooperation among
nations, regionally and internationally.
He suggested that ASEAN countries continue to take measures to restore market
confidence and investors' trust, enhance information and experience-sharing in
responding to a crisis, foster the implementation of commitments and agreements on
economic, trade and investment cooperation to boost each member country's growth.
Regarding the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and other bilateral free trade
agreements between ASEAN and non-member partners, the PM said, "They will be one of
the solutions to boost two-way trading of commodities, create more attractiveness
and favourable conditions for foreign and intra-bloc investment in the region, and
help maintain a stimulus economic growth for each member."
Dung said he believed that the cooperation in trade, investment and financial
fields among ASEAN countries as well as between them and their partners within the
ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3 and East Asia Summit (EAS) would help ASEAN economies to weather
the global financial storm.
The Vietnamese government leader also praised the adoption of the ASEAN Charter,
saying it should be seen as a major event for the region.
"The document provides a firm legal framework instrumental to the association's
enhanced coherence and effectiveness," PM Dung said, adding that the charter would
definitely bring about practical benefits to ASEAN and its peoples.
Regarding the establishment of the ASEAN Human Rights Body (AHRB), a topic of great
interest, PM Dung affirmed Vietnam 's support to enhancing ASEAN cooperation in
all fields, including human rights.
He said, "the AHRB is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights, and it
must attend to the distinct characteristics and diversity of the region in terms of
culture, economics, society, customs and traditions."
"The AHRB should be encouraged to promote cooperation and work out a common
regional strategy and approach on human rights, creating a foundation to promote
cooperation to ensure and implement human rights in the best way possible in line
with the particularities of each country and of the region."
Regarding the bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand , the leader
said the two countries are close neighbours and have a long-lasting traditional
friendship, adding that over the past year the two have seen remarkable progress in
all areas of cooperation.
He asserted that Vietnam always attaches importance to its cooperation with
Thailand and other major rice exporters under bilateral and multilateral
frameworks.
According to him, the two countries currently are actively participating in a
cooperation framework of the five major rice exporters, which includes India ,
China , Pakistan , Thailand and Vietnam .
Under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS),
member countries are discussing an ACMECS rice cooperation mechanism to increase
the exchange of information and technical assistance, PM Dung said.
He went on to say that Vietnam and Thailand are also studying suitable ways
and means to enhance bilateral cooperation to secure the food security of each
country while protecting the interests of rice producers, traders and consumers.
Besides the bilateral cooperation, the two countries have also intensified their
cooperation in economic and trade fields with other neighbours, including Laos ,
Cambodia and Myanmar , to help these countries narrow the development gap with
other regional countries.
PM Dung suggested that in future the two countries further their comprehensive
cooperation, particularly in economics, trade, investment, national defence and
security in order together overcome the negative impacts of the on-going economic
crisis as well as the challenges of globalisation, thus contributing to the
sustainable development of each country.
In addition, he said, the two countries should closely cooperate with other ASEAN
members in building the ASEAN community for the development of each country, for
peace, stability and prosperity of the Southeast Asian region and the world at
large.-Enditem
