Deputy PM co-chairs ASEAN-GCC ministerial meeting

Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh at the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council

This is the first time the foreign ministers of ASEAN and GCC have convened a meeting since 2014 with the aim of reviewing cooperation and discussing orientations to promote relations between the two sides in the coming time, and comparing notes on regional and international issues of shared concern.

In his role as coordinator of the ASEAN-GCC relations in 2018, Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh highlighted the certain achievements in the ASEAN-GCC cooperation since their official establishment of the mechanism in 2009 as well as huge potential for broader cooperation between the two regions, especially in economics, energy, investment, connectivity and infrastructure, saying that the two sides should actively discuss and propose concrete steps to further deepen their relationship in a more practical manner, thus benefiting the people of  both regions.

Based on the great potential and traditional friendship between the two regions’ people and the decade-long relationship of the two organizations, the Vietnamese diplomat suggested that a score of specific steps should be taken to further deepen the ASEAN-GCC relationship in a more substantial fashion for mutual benefits.

Sharing the view of the Vietnamese official, ministers of the two sides agreed to continue deepening cooperation, including the establishment of a five-year Collaborative Framework as a guiding document for cooperative activities in priority areas of their common interest such as trade, investment, sustainable development, energy, tourism, infrastructure, education and people-to-people exchange.

Both sides will also re-start political consultation mechanisms to augment cooperation between the two Secretariats, discuss specific initiatives as well as exploring new cooperation opportunities.

The GCC ministers affirmed that they attach importance to the ties with ASEAN, and pledged to actively assist the grouping in building its community and strengthening regional connectivity, towards bringing new vitality to the ASEAN-GCC cooperation.

ASEAN and GCC foreign ministers shared their views on regional and international issues of mutual concern such as economic protection, terrorism, geopolitical conflict, sustainable development, and climate change. 

The ministers affirmed the importance of adherence to and respect for the rule of law, including the system of law-based international trade and the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of respect for international law. 

The ministers emphasised the role of inter-regional links and international efforts in addressing emerging common challenges for peace and prosperity.

                                                                                                                By Vien Nhu