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LAOS, Nov. 13 (Vientiane Times / ANN): Addressing the Asean Summit, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said that he highly values the achievements of Asean and the presidency of Vietnam during 2020.
He called on member countries to accelerate efforts to acquire supplies to treat people with Covid-19 and vaccines, along with collaboration in economic promotion within the bloc.
Improving the commercial supply chain and assisting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in obtaining financing and modern technology to help boost production were also of great importance, he said.
Other priorities should be digitization and improvement of the supply chain for better connectivity through land, sea and air transport, to accelerate the supply of consumer goods.
As part of the summit, Asean leaders witnessed the official launch of the Midterm Review of the Asean Community Vision Plan 2025 and the Asean Comprehensive Recovery Framework and Implementation Plan, as well as the launch of the Asean Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies. .
Six key documents were adopted at the summit, including the Hanoi Declaration on the ASEAN community after 2025, the Hanoi Declaration on the adoption of the Fourth Work Plan of the ASEAN Integration Initiative (2021-2025) , the ASEAN Declaration on Digital Tourism and Defense of ASEAN Identity, and the Hanoi Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection towards a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community.
The 23rd Asean-China Summit, the 23rd Asean-Japan Summit, the 21st Asean-ROK Summit and the 17th Asean-India Summit were also held on virtually the same day.
ASEAN and Chinese leaders said they highly value the achievements of ASEAN-China cooperation and pledged to continue cooperation by adopting the new ASEAN-China work plan for 2021-2025.
The meeting expressed satisfaction with the response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Asean and in China, and thanked China for its contribution to the Asean Covid-19 Response Fund and its support to the ASEAN-China health cooperation project.
Laos called on China to continue to assist in building a digital economy by supporting technology and innovation in the fields of finance, banking, and capacity building for MSMEs.
At the Asean-Japan Summit, Asean leaders thanked Japan for its contribution to the Asean Covid-19 Response Fund and for funding the establishment of the Asean Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.
The two parties agreed to continue cooperation towards regional assimilation through the ASEAN Integration Initiative, as well as digitization.
ASEAN leaders and the leaders of the Republic of Korea confirmed their commitment to future cooperation, especially in the health sector with a focus on Covid-19. They also agreed to stronger partnerships in education, digitized economy and innovation, Asean connectivity, reduction of the development gap in Asean, tourism, sustainable development, food security and smart city development.
The leaders of Asean and India agreed to continue cooperation in the health sector, especially to share information and best experiences in managing Covid-19, including cooperation in research, development and production of medicines and a vaccine to treat Covid-19, and its affordability. and access for all.
They also agreed to cooperation in post-Covid-19 economic restoration, exchanges in culture and tourism, economic digitization and connectivity of Asean, especially the construction of the India-Thailand-Myanmar highway and its expansion to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
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