Vietnam PM proposes economic connectivity, maritime cooperation to advance ASEAN

Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh proposed three major areas to further enhance and deepen the ASEANIndia comprehensive strategic partnership while addressing the 22nd ASEANIndia summit in Malaysia on Sunday local time according to Vietnam NewsThe Vietnamese PM stressed the need to strengthen economic connectivity and make the most of comparative advantages for sustainable and inclusive development Second he proposed expanding peopletopeople exchanges and cooperation in education healthcare culture and tourism and third he highlighted the importance of promoting maritime cooperation and developing a sustainable blue economyAs part of the three principal directions the Vietnamese PM also suggested that there is a need to promote the role of businesses especially small and mediumsized enterprises SMEs restructure the ASEANIndia Business Council boost investment in high technology renewable energy infrastructure logistics artificial intelligence AI and semiconductors and enhance MekongGanga subregional cooperation to narrow development gaps Vietnam News reportedIn terms of developing maritime cooperation he also mentioned the need to strengthen collaboration in maritime transport science and industry and continue supporting ASEANs stance on the East Sea ensuring security safety and freedom of navigation as well as peacefully settling disputes in accordance with international law particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCLOSThe Vietnamese PM also valued Indias role in prompting regional cooperation and amplifying the voice of developing countries in the global agenda according to Vietnam News He affirmed Viet Nams support for Indias continued implementation of its Act East policy and its efforts to strengthen comprehensive and substantive cooperation with ASEANHe emphasised that in the context of rapid and complex global developments ASEAN and India which he referred to as strategic anchors linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans have a combined population of over 2 billion and a total GDP of nearly USD 8 trillionThe Vietnamese PM further affirmed that the country will continue to work closely with other ASEAN member states and India to promote substantive collaboration and contribute to peace stability and sustainable development in the region and beyondDuring the summit an agreement was reached to expedite the review of the ASEANIndia Trade in Goods Agreement AITIGA to advance it towards a more businessfriendly streamlined and effective framework thereby promoting trade investment and inclusive sustainable growthAccording to Vietnam News the summit adopted the ASEANIndia Action Plan for 20262030 as a roadmap for cooperation over the next five years with priorities focusing on key areas such as the digital economy innovation clean energy sustainable infrastructure healthcare education food security and narrowing development gapsAt the conclusion of the summit the leaders adopted a Joint Statement on Sustainable Tourism reaffirming their commitment to promoting substantive inclusive and sustainable cooperation between ASEAN and India in the new phaseThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever