The Vietnamese leader made the remarks while addressing 5th RCEP Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, part of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
He also emphasised the RCEP’s role in fostering economic development across the Asia-Pacific, as well as its tangible benefits in trade, investment, and regional supply chains, which form a foundation for member countries to achieve sustainable growth and enhance competitiveness.
Viet Nam attaches great importance to the RCEP, viewing it as a “bridge” that enables economies at different stages of development to share benefits, promote self-driven growth, and work toward common prosperity, the PM noted.
Viet Nam has consistently supported the multilateral trading system, considering the World Trade Organisation (WTO) a pillar of a fair, transparent, and mutually beneficial global trade order, and stands ready to engage in the WTO reform process, he continued.
A joint statement was issued on this occasion, under which leaders reaffirmed support for “ASEAN centrality and commitment in promoting open and inclusive regional economic integration that is mutually beneficial and forward-looking.”
“We reaffirmed our commitment to the WTO rules and principles as the foundations of an open, transparent, fair and rules-based multilateral trading system that ensures predictability and non-discrimination for all trading partners,” according to the joint statement.
“We recognised the pivotal role of RCEP in contributing to regional economic integration and cooperation. We are also deeply conscious of the importance of strengthening the region’s economic resilience amidst current global and regional economic and trade uncertainties,” it said.
