Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, Nov. 4 (VNA) -- The Cambodia daily has carried an interview with Viet Nam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on the occasion of the 8th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Phnom Phenh.

Question: What's Viet Nam's goal, especially the major issues Your Excellency Prime Minister would like to solve, at the Summit?

Answer: In the context of the complicated political and economic developments in the world, the 8th ASEAN summit has played a significant role in improving the grouping's position as a dynamic force of peace, stability and development for prosperity. Viet Nam would like to contribute to strengthening peace and stability in the region, and accelerating solidarity, expanding alliance and speeding up integration in both ASEAN member countries and non-member countries. Viet Nam has also worked hard to accelerate the grouping's role and position in order to take opportunities and cope with challenges posed by the world trend of fast globalisation, thus advancing ASEAN towards "2020 Vision" targets. In regard to this summit, I think there are some major issues as follow: first of all, ASEAN should push ahead the regional alliance, especially in economics, narrow the gap of development, assist the new members through effective implementation of agreements and treaties, including the ASEAN Free Trade Area, ASEAN Investment Area, the Ha Noi Plan of Action, and projects of the plan on narrowing the gap of development, projects on building the railway linking Singapore to Kunning of China, the ASEAN road system, electricity grids, the regional gas pipeline, triangles or quadrangles such as the Mekong subregion, the East-West corridor, and the Viet Nam-Laos-Cambodia triangle. Secondly, ASEAN should expand and deepen its cooperation with non-member countries while keeping the grouping's unity and initiatives in the mechanism and framework of cooperation in the region, especially in the ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN + 3 and ASEAN + 1, making way for greater dimensions of cooperation in the expanded region to East Asia. Thirdly, ASEAN should keep on efforts to maintain regional peace and stability, including efforts to reach an agreement with China on a Declaration on Conduct for related parties in the East Sea as soon as possible with a view to reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, push up cooperation in and outside the region in the fight against trans-national crime, including terrorism, trafficking in illicit drugs, women and children, and piracy.

Question: How do you think about ASEAN's future?

Answer: I am optimistic about a fine future of ASEAN as planned in the "2020 Vision". The grouping was established and has developed over the past 35 years, experiencing numerous ups and downs. Each time overcoming a challenge, ASEAN embarked on stronger growth and became more actitive. To date, ASEAN groups all 10 Southeast Asian countries, sharing strong aspiration and determination to maintain peace and promote cooperation for national and regional development. ASEAN is expanding and deepening ties with its 11 dialogue partners, boosting ASEAN-initiated inter-continential relations with Europe and Latin America, and bolstering relations with many other partners, thus proving the role and vitality of the grouping. I believe in ASEAN's fine future because the regional people are not only industrious and active but also in high spirit of becoming strong by their own efforts. ASEAN, a grouping of regional nations, is developing cooperation with other parts of the world and is enjoying peace, stability and prosperity. ASEAN member countries are bonded to each other by partnership in dynamic development and a social community of mutual assistance.

Question: What is your idea about efforts for cooperation in transport, tourism, telecommunications, migration, agriculture, education, commerce and investment among ASEAN? and other messages that you want to send out?

Answer: ASEAN cooperation has covered almost all aspects of social life in the region, from politics and security to economy, education, culture and external relations. This is a great achievement of ASEAN. In general, ASEAN's cooperation focusses on the following areas: first, to ensure and maintain peace and stability in the region, establish friendly ties among member countries, considering it a prerequisite condition for development. Second, to promote regional relations, particularly in economy through trade, financial, investment, agricultural, transport and communication cooperation to create a converged economic strength of the grouping to seize opportunities to tackle unpredictable changes in the economic globalisation process. Third, to improve and raise the living conditions of the regional people, to develop human resources through programmes on poverty reduction, healthcare and disease prevention, education, and training. Fourth, to promote mutual understanding and confidence in the sprit of a society of mutual assistance. ASEAN has gained encouraging achievements in various cooperative fields towards the said goals.

We have been in Cambodia to attend the 8th ASEAN Summit in the spirit of solidarity, cooperation for peace and development. Prompted by the fine tradition of good neighbourliness between the two countries and the solidarity among the great family of ASEAN, we will do our utmost to join efforts with Cambodia and other ASEAN member countries to ensure the success of the summit. This is the first time that Cambodia - a young member of ASEAN - hosts an ASEAN summit. I believe the summit in the country of ancient Angkor temples will be successful with important contributions from Cambodia.