Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related summits.
Early morning of September 8, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation returned to Hanoi , successfully concluding their working trip to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related summits from September 4 to September 7 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
With the theme “ASEAN Stature: The Heart of Growth”, the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related summits are the largest annual summit activities of the region, attracting the participation of leaders of ASEAN member countries, Timor Leste as an observer, dialogue partner countries, 2 guest countries, Bangladesh and Cook Islands, and 9 international organizations.
The conferences took place in the context of the world and regional situation from the beginning of 2023 until now continuing to witness multi-dimensional, rapid, complex, and unpredictable movements and fluctuations. The world economy has shown more positive signs of recovery, but there are still many risks, unsustainable growth, slow trade recovery, and increasingly complex geopolitical instability.
ASEAN faces both challenges and opportunities, but with the joint efforts and solidarity of its member countries and the leadership of the Chair of Indonesia, the ASEAN Community has basically maintained its solidarity, continued to develop stably and firmly with an increasingly strong "stature", affirming its role as the center of growth, continuing to be a bright spot in economic growth, the center of free trade agreement (FTA) networks, as well as affirming its central role in the region, the center of important regional cooperation mechanisms such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit (EAS)..., towards the Association's development strategy until 2045.
On the Vietnamese side, this is an important diplomatic activity, part of a series of very exciting foreign affairs events taking place when Party and State leaders visit and work in many countries, international organizations and many leaders of important partner countries visit and work in Vietnam.
Within the framework of the Conference, the Prime Minister attended about 40 activities including multilateral conferences, bilateral meetings with leaders of countries and international organizations, and meetings and receptions with business leaders.
A strong message about a resilient, dynamic and resilient ASEAN
Working urgently with nearly 20 activities and about 90 documents approved and recorded, the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related conferences were a great success, reaping abundant results.
Prime Minister and ASEAN leaders
In the spirit of the theme “ASEAN Stature: The Heart of Growth”, ASEAN Leaders and partners discussed many strategic issues facing ASEAN and the region, agreed on directions to strengthen and enhance cooperation, and prepare for stronger development and breakthroughs in the future. According to the assessment, these conferences had three outstanding results as follows:
Firstly, the mark of ASEAN’s stature has been clearly and consistently affirmed. The stature of ASEAN today is the result of ASEAN’s tireless efforts over the past 56 years, based on solidarity, trust and cooperation. In the current volatile context, these values continue to be promoted, helping ASEAN overcome difficulties and challenges, affirming its role and prestige in the region and the world.
ASEAN’s stature is also reflected in its success in attracting the participation of major countries and many partners in regional cooperation, jointly responding to challenges, for the common interests of peace, stability and development. The presence of nearly 20 partners at these conferences, along with many proposals for cooperation and establishing and upgrading relations (with Japan, Canada, IORA, PIF), reflects the commitment and respect of partners for ASEAN.
Second, efforts to realize ASEAN as the center of growth. This is not only an aspiration but also a mission of ASEAN to ensure a better and more effective environment for cooperation and development for the 680 million people in the region.
To achieve this goal, ASEAN has made changes in its cooperation strategy, both within the bloc and with its partners. These are changes in perception, approaches and actions. The major trends of the times, along with the multi-dimensional consequences of complex developments in the region and the world, have placed an urgent requirement on all countries, including ASEAN, to innovate, be creative, proactive and quickly adapt to all opportunities and challenges.
Agreements and initiatives such as the ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement, the Carbon Neutrality Strategy, the development of an electric vehicle ecosystem, and the Blue Economy Framework are proactive and creative steps taken by both ASEAN and its partners to shape and lead new cooperation trends in the region.
Third, prepare the initial provisions for the next stage of ASEAN's development. The Summit reviewed and acknowledged the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, which establishes ASEAN's strategic framework for the next 20 years. With orientations spanning the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars, Vision 2045 opens up hopes for ASEAN's transformation, towards a "self-reliant, creative, dynamic and people-centered" ASEAN.
On this occasion, the Leaders adopted many important documents such as the Declaration on Inclusive Development for Persons with Disabilities, Family Development and Gender Equality, Enhancing Food Security, Preschool Care and Education, Framework on the ASEAN Public Health Emergency Coordination System, etc., contributing to strengthening efforts to build a people-oriented and people-centered Community.
Actively contribute to maintaining ASEAN's stature and being the center of growth
The Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made many important contributions to the success of the Conference, which was highly appreciated by international friends. The Prime Minister delivered important speeches at all Conferences, bringing to ASEAN and its partners many messages, directions and practical initiatives to consolidate the process of building the Community and enhancing relations with partners.
Within the framework of the Conference, the Prime Minister attended about 40 activities including multilateral conferences, bilateral meetings with leaders of countries and international organizations, and meetings and receptions with business leaders.
Regarding the position, role and importance of ASEAN in the new context, the Prime Minister stated that ASEAN faces the mission of affirming itself as "a pole in a multipolar world", as the center of cooperation as well as regional structure, and ASEAN is fully capable of undertaking that mission.
Specifically, ASEAN has a wide open economic space; many new initiatives are also being strongly promoted so that ASEAN can promptly grasp and take advantage of opportunities from new development trends; ASEAN is independent, self-reliant, a bright spot in economic growth, enhancing intra-bloc trade and investment, effectively responding to challenges in energy security, food security; firmly overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic...; ASEAN plays the role of an important link in regional cooperation mechanisms through relations and cooperation with external partners.
To maintain ASEAN’s stature and position as the center of growth, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need to enhance ASEAN’s self-reliance by promoting economic connectivity, expanding the intra-bloc market, and facilitating trade and investment flows. ASEAN countries need to remove policy and institutional bottlenecks and barriers, maintain stability in the intra-bloc supply chain, and enhance the region’s resilience to external impacts and challenges. At the same time, ASEAN’s role as the center of the network of free trade agreements must be strengthened through reviewing, upgrading, and negotiating new FTAs between ASEAN and its partners, in order to create new development impetus for the regional economy.
The Prime Minister stated that ASEAN needs to identify that ensuring peace, security and stability in the region is the responsibility and effort of ASEAN itself. In particular, in the face of the spiral of fierce strategic competition among major countries, the trend of fragmentation and consolidation of forces is increasingly evident, forcing countries to face extremely difficult strategic choices. The Prime Minister emphasized that for ASEAN to maintain its central role, the only answer is to promote its own strength, consolidate internal solidarity to affirm its strategic value. ASEAN countries must uphold the spirit of solidarity, independence, autonomy and self-reliance in both words and actions; respect the law, and be steadfast in ASEAN's basic principles and standards of conduct.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that, in the midst of fierce competition, ASEAN needs to maintain strategic balance with major countries. ASEAN must truly become a reliable bridge with the capacity to harmonize and balance relationships and interests, firmly pursuing the goal of building an open, transparent, inclusive regional structure and, most importantly, unifying its principled stance on issues directly related to the security and development environment of the region.
Only then can ASEAN's role be truly promoted and receive real respect from partners, especially major countries.
At the Conference, the Prime Minister and the Leaders had in-depth discussions on regional and international issues, reaffirming ASEAN's principled stance. Regarding the East Sea issue, the Prime Minister emphasized that protecting peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea is both the benefit and responsibility of all countries, proposing to promote the full and effective implementation of the DOC Declaration and strive to achieve a substantive and effective COC in accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS, calling on partners to support ASEAN's stance, and together with ASEAN to ensure a favorable environment for COC negotiations.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to adhere to a people-centered approach with the core spirit of “people being the center, subject, goal, resource and driving force” of development and the process of building the ASEAN Community. The Prime Minister also emphasized the orientation of equitable and sustainable development, especially in remote and isolated areas and sub-regions; not sacrificing fairness, social progress and environmental protection in exchange for mere economic growth.
The Prime Minister announced that Vietnam will host the ASEAN Future Forum on rapid, sustainable, people-centered development, to complement ASEAN's official forums and mechanisms, creating opportunities for broad exchange of ideas and initiatives for regional cooperation, contributing to building a resilient and sustainable ASEAN Community.
To enhance cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, the Prime Minister suggested focusing on promoting trade, investment, connecting businesses, stabilizing supply chains, supporting access to each other's markets; hoping that partners will support and create more favorable conditions for goods from Vietnam and ASEAN countries.
Towards a sustainable future, the Prime Minister proposed ASEAN cooperation mechanisms to expand potential areas such as digital transformation, digital economy, e-commerce, energy transition, green finance, green technology, etc. to create more momentum for inclusive growth, towards sustainable development, bringing practical benefits to the people. The Prime Minister also suggested that partners coordinate to promote Mekong cooperation frameworks, effectively contributing to the sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region.
The Prime Minister emphasized that transforming economic structures, moving towards building a digital economy, developing a green economy, applying a circular economy, and a sharing economy are appropriate and correct orientations, mobilizing resources through public-private partnerships. Accordingly, the Prime Minister suggested that countries need to coordinate closely with each other, promote new thinking, new methods, and new technologies in this profound transformation process.
As a reliable partner and responsible active member, Vietnam will continue to closely coordinate with Indonesia and other ASEAN countries to strive to build a united, unified, self-reliant and developed ASEAN, continue to promote multilateral cooperation and international solidarity, contributing to maintaining an environment of peace, stability, cooperation and common development in the region and the world.
Countries expect the ASEAN-Australia High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy Transition, co-chaired by Australia, Vietnam and Laos, to be held later this year in Hanoi, to make practical contributions to the green transition efforts towards sustainable development.
Promote relationships with partners to be more in-depth, substantive and effective
On this occasion, in the spirit of sincerity, trust and responsibility, in an open atmosphere, with frank exchanges on major regional and international issues, the Prime Minister had nearly 20 meetings and contacts with leaders of countries and international organizations attending the conference. Thereby, contributing to strengthening the relationship between Vietnam and its partners, bringing political-diplomatic cooperation, economics-trade-investment, security-defense, culture-education, people-to-people exchange, etc. into greater depth, substance and effectiveness.
In addition, the Prime Minister and leaders of countries and international organizations also agreed to promote cooperation in new areas such as innovation, digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, sharing economy, renewable energy, sustainable development, etc. and coordinate closely and effectively, making the most of opportunities in implementing multilateral agreements, including free trade agreements.
Notably, in the context of food security issues, especially rice supply shortages, which are of concern to many countries in the region, the Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam is ready to support countries in ensuring stable supply and contributing to enhancing food security on a global scale. The Prime Minister suggested and many leaders agreed that it is necessary to negotiate and sign agreements on rice trade cooperation to ensure food security goals.
The partners all highly appreciated the socio-economic development results and the governance of the Vietnamese Government in recent times. The partners also increasingly appreciated the dynamic role and positive contributions of Vietnam in ASEAN and the region. Leaders of many countries expressed their desire to soon visit Vietnam and upgrade and enhance bilateral relations in the coming time.
Governments and businesses need to cooperate more closely, effectively and substantially.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also received leaders of leading Indonesian businesses and corporations and delivered a speech at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit - the largest annual business-related forum in Southeast Asia, with representatives of more than 2,000 ASEAN and international businesses and more than 100 international speakers, including leaders of many ASEAN countries and partner countries.
Enterprises all assess Vietnam as a large, potential and attractive market for businesses to invest in, trade and consume quality goods and products. For his part, the Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam always creates the most favorable conditions for investors with the spirit that the success of investors is the success of Vietnam, "harmonious benefits, shared risks".
To further promote the role of enterprises in promoting growth and creating new breakthroughs for ASEAN, the Prime Minister said that governments and enterprises need to cooperate more closely, effectively and substantially to: (1) jointly perfect institutions; (2) join hands in developing strategic infrastructure and economic connectivity; (3) build high-quality human resources, promote innovation and promote human resources.
The above issues need to be coordinated at all three levels: between Government and Government to harmonize policies, between enterprises and enterprises to synchronize implementation, between Government and enterprises to strengthen public-private partnerships, trust and consensus.
The Prime Minister hopes that businesses must take the lead in innovation, increase labor productivity, harmoniously combine production and business with research and development; comply with the law, improve business capacity and ethics, build a healthy, equal and sustainable business environment; promote the role and responsibility to the community and society, especially in remote areas, border areas and islands so that no one is left behind; develop corporate culture and promote cultural development on par with the economy and society, contributing to building an ASEAN culture with strong identity; unite, share and support with the spirit of "I have you in me, you have me in you".
It can be affirmed that the working trip to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related conferences by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation was a great success. The Vietnamese delegation made the most of the time, seized every opportunity, successfully completed the set goals, actively contributed to the overall success of the Conference, clearly expressed clear and consistent viewpoints and stances, and affirmed the increasingly important position and role of Vietnam in the region and in the international arena.
International public opinion and ASEAN are interested in and highly appreciate the working trip of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation. The international press is very interested in the trip, continuing to be impressed with the confidence, initiative, sincerity, trust, responsibility, frankness, strength, energy, initiative, flexibility, efficiency and strategic vision of the leaders of the Party, State and Head of the Government of Vietnam.
Coordinating smoothly, synchronously, closely and effectively with other important foreign affairs activities in the past and the coming time, the Prime Minister's working trip continues to implement the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization according to the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, Directive 25 of the Secretariat on promoting and elevating multilateral foreign affairs; conveying the great message of the Party, State and Government of Vietnam to ASEAN and international friends about a peaceful, cooperative, integrated Vietnam, participating more actively, proactively and effectively in regional processes, being a good friend, a reliable partner, a responsible member of the international community .
TUNG QUANG; photo: VGP
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