New York(VNA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) completely supportsthe implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) andcommits to uniting with African countries to realise the UN Agenda 2030 andAfrica’s Agenda 2063 for growth, prosperity and development of regionalcountries.

The statement was madeby Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission tothe UN, on behalf of ASEAN countries at the 23rd meeting of the UNGeneral Assembly on October 19.

The ASEAN appreciatesthe outcomes and progresses that African countries have made in theimplementation of the NEPAD, especially in important areas such as economicdevelopment, infrastructure, agriculture, education and national governance, hestated.

However, the ASEANalso sees long-term challenges facing Africa, including agricultural productivity,food security, economic diversification and market access, along with theshortage of financial resources and the limited governance capacity duringNEPAD implementation, he said.

According to the Ambassador,the ASEAN and Africa can exchange experience in a number of areas, especiallyin the implementation of the African Agenda 2063 and the ASEAN Joint Vision2025, as well as the UN Agenda 2030, given many similarities in theirdevelopment agendas.

The two sides boastgreat potential for cooperation and connection, as well as sharing know-how inagriculture, education, information technology, trade, investment andinfrastructure system, including through Triangle and South-South cooperationmechanisms, stated the diplomat.

He affirmed ASEAN’scommitments to continuing to work with friendly countries, partners, includingthose from Africa, to protect values of multilateralism, considering it as ajoint mission of the entire mankind.

ASEAN calls ondevelopment partners, international financial institutions, regional andsub-regional organisations, as well as the international community to continuesupporting African countries to pursue the goal of peace and sustainabledevelopment, as well as the continent’s efforts in implementing the NEPAD, hesaid.

NEPAD is a socio-economic development flagship programme of the AfricanUnion (AU), adopted by African leaders at the 37th Summit of the Organizationof African Unity (OAU) held in Lusaka, Zambia, in July 2001.

Its four major objectives are to eradicatepoverty, promote sustainable growth and development, foster integration ofAfrica in the world economy, and
accelerate the empowerment of women.-VNA