Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam will take actions to speed up the narrowing ofdevelopment gap in ASEAN, especially in enhancing sub-regional cooperation byholding an ASEAN Forum on narrowing development gaps between sub-regions for comprehensiverecovery and sustainable development.

The statement was made by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen QuocDung at the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (ASEAN SOM) held viavideoconference on April 7.

Dung reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for and commitments toASEAN’s cooperation priorities and initiatives in 2021.

These priorities and initiatives need to rely onachievements gained by the bloc in 2020, particularly in Community building,COVID-19 prevention and control, and post-pandemic recovery.

At the meeting, participating countries also reaffirmed their backing for the initiatives proposed by Brunei, ASEAN Chair in 2021, includingpromoting multilateralism, improving the effectiveness of the bloc’shumanitarian assistance and emergency response, and sea-based economiccooperation.

In response to COVID-19, they agreed to continueprioritising efforts to control the pandemic, prevent new waves of infection, overcomethe consequences of the pandemic and speed up economic recovery.

Accordingly, ASEAN will focus on implementing theComprehensive Recovery Framework, with the focus on remote areas and the mostvulnerable groups, using 10.5 million USD from the COVID-19 Response Fund tobuy vaccines, contributing more to the ASEAN Regional Reserve of MedicalSupplies and discussing the establishment of the ASEAN travel corridor. The countriesalso shared the need to ensure equal access to vaccines and raise voice against“vaccine nationalism”.

The meeting reviewed ASEAN’s cooperation relations withpartners, including proposals to upgrade relations with ASEAN, and highlightedthe importance of ensuring the central role as well as the overall external relationsof ASEAN.

Regarding regional and international issues, delegatesexpressed concerns over recent complicated developments in the East Sea, includingthe threats, coercion and violations of international law and the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which affect regional peaceand security, run counter to commitments in the Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the East Sea (DOC), and create an unfavorable atmosphere fornegotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). They emphasised theneed to restrain, avoid complicating the situation, promote international lawand UNCLOS 1982, continue implementing the DOC fully and effectively, andgradually resume negotiations for an effective and valid COC in conformity withinternational law and UNCLOS 1982.

The Vietnamese representative suggested ASEAN maintain itssolidarity and principled stance, and make efforts to negotiate to build aneffective and substantive COC in accordance with international law including the 1982Convention.

For the Myanmar situation, participants agreed thatcomplicated developments over the past time, including increasing violence and humanlosses, affect not only Myanmar but also cooperation and solidarity, the imageand reputation of ASEAN. They stressed the need for ASEAN to continue allefforts to support Myanmar to overcome difficulties.

The Vietnam SOM head affirmed Vietnam’s support for ASEAN’sapplication of methods in approaching the Myanmar situation. Vietnam will worktogether with other member countries to actively support Myanmar to overcomecurrent difficulties for the sake of peace, reconciliation and stability in theregion, he stated, adding that as a non-permanent member of the United NationsSecurity Council, Vietnam has also informed and updated the council on the bloc’sefforts to assist Myanmar./.