Senior officials of ASEAN and Japan attend the 39th ASEAN-Japan Forum in Bangkok, Thailand on June 25. (Photo: published by VNA)

The Vietnamese delegation to the event was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet.

Addressing the forum, Deputy FM Viet expressed a hope that the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will contribute positively and effectively to efforts to promote inclusive growth towards a future of sustainable development for the countries and people of both sides and the region.

He suggested the two sides strengthen cooperation to connect and develop high-quality infrastructure and called on Japan to increase support for ASEAN countries to implement commitments to reduce carbon emissions, promote energy transition, respond to climate change through mechanisms and initiatives such as the Japanese Government's Asian Net Zero Emissions Community (AZEC) Initiative, the Asian energy transition initiative and the clean energy future initiative for ASEAN.

Regarding the world and regional situation, Viet called on Japan to continue supporting ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea, especially the principles of restraint, peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for international law and the 1982 UNCLOS, backing efforts to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and create a conducive environment for negotiations to develop a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in an effective, practical manner, and in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS, contributing to turning the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability, cooperation and development.

At the forum, both ASEAN and Japan appreciated the importance and values of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to each side and the entire region, and agreed that the ASEAN-Japan relationship is currently one of the most dynamic, substantive and effective foreign relations of ASEAN.

The two sides pledged to coordinate closely to implement the Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Trusted Partners and its Implementation Plan to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership.