Addressing the event, Deputy Minister Vu highlighted
the positive and steady development of the forum over the past 20 years over
areas of politics-society, economy-trade, cultural and people-to-people
exchange.
He proposed that in the coming time, the forum
should further exploit the advantage of the two regions on development
potential, cultural diversity and people’s dynamism to boost the
sustainable, inclusive and creative growth of East Asia and Latin America as
well as friendship among people of both sides.
He thanked FEALAC member countries for supporting
the project initiated by Vietnam in fostering East Asia-Latin America
cultural exchange through the Hue Festival. He took the occasion to invite
representatives of the countries to join the Hue Festival 2020 scheduled for
April 1-6.
He also expressed his hope that the member countries
will continue supporting Vietnam’s initiative on FEALAC cultural city
network.
Participants at the event reviewed the development
of the forum over the past two decades and defined orientations for future
cooperation.
They adopted the Santo Domingo Statement affirming
their commitments in cooperating in politics, society, culture, tourism,
science-technology and trade, and enhancing public awareness of the forum.
They also pledged to abide by the UN Charter as well
as regulations recognised broadly by international law, thus maintaining
peace, stability and maritime and aviation security and safety.
Earlier, FEALAC senior officials also convened their
meeting, along with the third meeting of the FEALAC Trust Fund’s
Coordinating Committee, and several other meetings.
During his stay, Deputy Minister Vu had meetings
with Dominican Minister of Regional Integration Miguel Mejia and Deputy
Foreign Minister Jose Blanco, and laid flowers at the Ho Chi Minh Square in
Santo Domingo. He also met bilaterally with heads of the delegations from
Cuba, Ecuador and Peru.
At the meetings, the two sides discussed measures to
bolster relations between Vietnam and the countries and continue
coordinating closely together at international organisations and
multilateral forums and support each other in dealing with sovereignty
disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law,
especially the UN Charter and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
1982./.