The Vietnamese leader’s visit aims to show Vietnam’s active contributions to strengthening ASEAN’s regional connectivity and integration, thereby promoting the central role of ASEAN, while also further cementing the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership.
Under the theme “Harnessing Disruption to Shape Inclusive Economies of the Future”, the IMF-WB annual meetings focus on policy orientations and measures that harness strong technological development to serve sustainable and inclusive development. The meetings see the participation of thousands of delegates, including finance ministers, central bank governors, and representatives of businesses and social organisations.
Under the theme “Achieving Sustainable Goals and Overcoming the Development Gap through Regional and Global Collaborative Actions”, the ALG is an one of the highlights of the 2018 IMF-WB annual meetings.
As the world economy enters a period of higher growth but also of greater risks, the ALG creates an opportunity for ASEAN, the United Nations, the IMF and the WB to discuss the ideas aiming to enhance cooperation in reducing poverty, narrowing the development gap, promoting economic growth and regional integration, and strengthening the central role of ASEAN. At the ALG, delegates will also discuss the orientations and measures to implement ASEAN Vision 2025 in mutual relation with the UN’s sustainable development goals until 2030.
As an active, proactive and responsible member of ASEAN, building on the success of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018 recently held in Hanoi, the Vietnamese delegation advocates active participation in the ALG’s discussions; coordinating with ASEAN member countries to foster the relationship between ASEAN and Vietnam with the IMF, the WB and the UN; creating a momentum to drive the building of the ASEAN Community on the basis of strengthening the mutuality with the UN’s sustainable development goals until 2030.
The friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Indonesia has been interminably strengthened and is developing well. In June 2013, during President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Indonesia, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership. The two countries’ leaders have made frequent visits and exchanges to strengthen mutual trust. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Indonesia in August 2018 and Indonesia President Joko Widodo’s visit to Vietnam in September 2018 are both historic milestones in the bilateral relationship.
We are pleased to witness the prospering economic and trade relationship between Vietnam and Indonesia, with bilateral trade growing over the years towards a more balanced trade. The bilateral trade value reached US$5.3 billion in the first eight months of 2018, up 27% over the same period last year. Security and defence cooperation between the two countries also sees fine developments. Cooperation in education, culture, sports, tourism, healthcare, people-to-people exchanges and between localities are also being fostered. Vietnam and Indonesia work closely and support each another in many regional and international issues and cooperate effectively at multilateral forums.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s attendance at the ALG on the occasion of the IMF-WB annual meetings and working visit to Indonesia reflects Vietnam’s commitment and responsible contributions in enhancing ASEAN’s solidarity, unity and central role in the region towards the goal of green and sustainable development, while affirming that Vietnam always attaches importance to promoting the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership to develop in a more comprehensive and substantive way, for the sake of the people of the two countries and the whole region.
