PM concludes working visit to attend 31st ASEAN Summit  PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation arrived in Ha Noi on November 15, concluding his visit to attend the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila, the Philippines.   PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc concludes working visit to attend 31st ASEAN Summit, Manila, the Philippines, November 14, 2017 - Phhoto: VGP/Quang Hieu Within November 12-14, the Vietnamese leader joined hands with other ASEAN leaders to evaluate the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, discuss measures to enhance effectiveness of ASEAN activities and exchange issues of international and regional concerns.  The PM attended the special Gala on the establishment of the 50th founding anniversary of ASEAN and 10 official sessions.  The PM highlighted three key areas of ASEAN cooperation in his speech at the plenary session of the 31st ASEAN Summit. Accordingly, he called for determination to build a self-reliant ASEAN community that upholds common interests of citizens, develop the ASEAN Economic Community via economic connectivity and internal trade facilitation, and strengthen mutual support among member economies. Stressing the significance of ASEAN’s 50th founding anniversary, he said Vietnam is committed to building a strong ASEAN community. On the East Sea issue, PM Phuc welcomed ministers’ consensus on stance on principles at the 50th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM 50) held in Manila in August.  In such spirit, he asked for documents at the event to fully reflect the principles and stance featured at the joint statement of the AMM 50, including ensuring security, safety, maritime and aviation freedom in the East Sea; settling disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), fully respecting legal and diplomatic processes and seriously implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).  The Vietnamese leader lauded ASEAN and China for ratifying the framework Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), adding that the effective and legally-binding COC should be negotiated in a practical and feasible way. On the sidelines of the meeting, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc joined a meeting with leaders of Cambodia and Laos, met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian PM Medvedev and Indian PM Modi and received Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres and President of the European Council Donald Tusk.  At these meetings, the two sides exchanged measures and orientations to boost bilateral relationship.  By Thuy Dung, VGP