Ise-Shima (VNA)ꩵ – Vietnam hopes that G7 countries and multilateral organisations will continue to assist the country and other Mekong nations in managing and protecting water resource, and improving their capacity to adapt to climate change and prevent drought and saltwater intrusion, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The Vietnamese leader made the call while addressing the first working session of the expanded G7 Summit in Ise-Shima, in Japan’s Mie prefecture, on May 27. He reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to join hands in realising the Paris Agreement which was reached at the 21 st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-21), in the context that climate is changing quickly. Vietnam appreciates the “Partnership for Quality Infrastructure in Asia” and the “Japan-Mekong Connectivity” initiatives launched by Japan, and welcomes the support provided by other G7 member countries, including the US and the Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) for sustainable development in the Mekong River basin through a new initiative on the Sustainable Infrastructure Programme (SIP), he said. Welcoming prioritised issues raised at the Summit’s agenda, the PM said the matters are crucial and urgent to peace, stability and sustainable development in Asia-Pacific and the world at large. “We are well aware that peace and development in Vietnam is closely linked with peace and prosperity in the world. Contributing to handling regional and global challenges is the responsibility and interest of each country, regardless of its development status,” he said. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc also applauded Japan’s new initiatives in major areas like ensuring peace, stability and development in the Middle East, health care and gender equality, along with the country’s efforts in assisting Africa. He underlined that prosperity and sustainable development in Vietnam, Asia and the world may be ensured only in a peaceful and stable international environment. The leader highlighted increasingly complex challenges to regional peace and security, firstly maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea. Unilateral activities that go against international law and regional agreements such as the large-scale reclamation of man-made islands, changing the status quo, and scaling up militarisation are seriously threatening regional peace and stability, he said. The situation requires concerned parties to show restraint and address disputes by peaceful measures in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), enhance trust-building measures and preventive diplomacy and work towards the early formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), he added. Together with ASEAN nations, Vietnam welcomes the G7 nations to raise their voices in support of efforts to guarantee maritime and overflight security and freedom, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law and regional agreements. The PM called on the group and the international community to make further responsible contributions to consolidating a peaceful and sustainable environment in Asia-Pacific and the world at large. The expanded G7 summit saw the participation of leaders from G7 members – Japan, the US, the UK, France, Germany, Canada and Italy – along with representatives from the EU, and invited guests, including leaders from Vietnam, Indonesia , Laos, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and international organisations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank. The expanded G7 event includes two sessions focusing on high-quality infrastructure, regional security, women’s rights, health care, the 2030 Agenda and sustainable development goals, and cooperation with Africa.-VNA