PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other ASEAN leaders to the 32nd ASEAN Summit in Singapore
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The ASEAN leaders also spoke highly of the joint statement on developments in the Korean peninsula timely issued on April 27 by the ASEAN foreign ministers, saying they expect peaceful and sustainable solutions to denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
Regarding the East Sea issue, PM Phuc reiterated complicated developments still remain, thus ASEAN needs to continue to firmly stick to its basic principles and common positions on the East Sea and strive to beef up the formation of an effective and legally-binding Code of Conduct (COC) for sustainable peace and stability in the East Sea.
The ASEAN leaders agreed that the formation of an effective, practical and legally -binding COC in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea will play an important role in ensuring a transparent and rule-based architecture in the region as well as peace and stability in the East Sea.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the regional summit, Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong noted that ASEAN is entering a new development stage.
ASEAN, however, should continue enhancing solidarity and promoting its central role amid fast changes in the region and the world.
In order to build the ASEAN Community of shared prosperity, PM Lee expressed his belief that ASEAN needs to improve its resilience capacity to cope with traditional and non-traditional challenges, foster innovative development through new technological application, effective economic and trade cooperation, and seeking cooperation opportunities in new areas.
PM Lee announced that ASEAN leaders agreed to adopt the ASEAN Leaders’ Vision for a Resilient and Innovative ASEAN, the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Cybersecurity Cooperation and the Paper Concept for ASEAN Smart Cities Network.
