(VOVWORLD) -Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for promoting the ASEAN-US strategic partnership in all three aspects: security, socio-economic recovery, and sustainable and inclusive development as he addressed the 9th online ASEAN-US Summit on Tuesday with ASEAN leaders, US President Joe Biden and the ASEAN Secretary General in attendance.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the 9th ASEAN-US Summit. (Photo: VOV) |
He asked the US to help improve the early warning capacity of emergency medical situations through the Southeast Asia Regional Office of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Hanoi.
Prime Minister Chinh emphasized the need to promote cooperation to restore trade and investment flows and create favorable conditions for businesses to re-enter each other's market. He suggested that the US continue to support ASEAN in narrowing the development gap, connecting regions, and effectively supporting the building of the ASEAN Community.
Regarding security hotspots, including the East Sea (South China Sea), the Prime Minister affirmed that a constructive approach and responsible behavior play an important role, helping to neutralize risks and contribute to stability and development. He said he hopes that the US will actively participate in and cooperate with ASEAN in ensuring peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea in the spirit of the rule of law.
President Joe Biden told the Summit that the US plans to announce a program worth 102 million USD with new initiatives to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN. He reiterated the US support for ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea and welcomed ASEAN for promoting cooperation, dialogue, trust building, full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and building the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
The Summit adopted the ASEAN-US Leaders' Statement on Digital Development to promote digital transformation and narrow the digital divide in ASEAN.