Vietnam Calls For Increased Cooperation For Regional Prosperity

territorial integrity without aggression and threats to invade and use force and settle disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the United Nations Charter. In that spirit, President Sang highlighted Vietnam's message "Strengthening the Asian-African connectivity for global peace and prosperity in accordance with international law."

Vietnam should prioritize forging sustainable Asia-Africa connectivity based on common rules and standards, particularly economic links through the South-South cooperation initiatives on trade, investment, agriculture, telecommunications, labour health, education at the regional, sub-regional and bilateral cooperation levels.

The two continents also need to push up maritime and aviation connectivity to guarantee a security and safe environment for the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

The Vietnamese leader also urged the two continents to reinforce solidarity and coordination at international forums to promote the interests of developing countries in the process of reforming political economic and financial institutions to deal with global issues, work out the post-2015 development agenda and measures for adaption to climate change under the framework of the WTO negotiations.

President Sang reiterated that the Bandung principles are in line with Vietnam's   foreign policy for peace, cooperation and development in which the nation always gives high priority to boosting the traditional friendship, solidarity and cooperation with Asian-African countries.

He gave thanks to friendly countries Asian and African nations for their valuable material and spiritual support for Vietnam in the past struggles for national independence and the current nation-building process.

Vietnam consistently pursues peaceful settlement of disputes with respect to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), properly and fully complies with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and accelerate the finalization of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), the President said. 

The country has been participating in global policy making mechanisms in a proactive and responsible manner, Sang said, noting that it is engaging in UN peacekeeping activities in South Sudan and the Central African Republic. 

Vietnam is joining hands with ASEAN countries to finalize the building of an ASEAN Community by the end of this year with the three major pillars- politics-security, economics and culture-society towards developing Southeast Asia into the area of ​​peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity thus opening up opportunities for cooperation between the two regions as well as in the world, Sang said.

On the sidelines of the conference, President Sang also received the Vice President of Venezuela Jorge Arreaza, the Vice President of Angola Manuel Domingos Vicente, and  Foreign Minister of Tunisia Taieb Baccouche.