Continuing the work program of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, on the afternoon of September 5, at the Jakarta Convention Center, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ASEAN countries participated in a narrow session to discuss international and regional issues.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ASEAN countries attended a summit to discuss international and regional issues. Photo: VGP
Sharing concerns about profound changes in the world and regional situation, the countries’ leaders emphasized cohesion as a strategic value for ASEAN to overcome challenges and remain stable in the face of strategic friction and geopolitical competition , and reaffirmed its central role in the region. structure; Dialogue and cooperation are the foundation for strengthening ASEAN’s role in orienting and leading efforts for peace, stability and development in the region.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared the countries’ views on the complex, multidimensional dynamics in the current international environment, a key factor of which is fierce strategic competition. Tensions between major countries, forcing countries to face extremely difficult strategic choices.
Faced with fierce competition among major countries, the Prime Minister stressed that for ASEAN to maintain its central role, the only answer is to boost its strength and strengthen solidarity within the bloc to reaffirm its value. Is. Your strategy. ASEAN countries need to maintain the spirit of independence, self-reliance, respect for law, and firmly adhere to ASEAN’s basic principles and standards of conduct.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a narrow meeting of leaders of ASEAN countries to discuss international and regional issues. Photo: VGP
The Prime Minister also stressed that ASEAN needs to maintain strategic balance with key countries amid competition. ASEAN must truly become a reliable bridge with the capacity to harmonize and balance relationships and interests while remaining steadfast in its goal of building a truly open, transparent, inclusive and most importantly regional framework. Agreed to maintain its principled stance on issues directly related to the security and development of the region’s environment.
Discussing international and regional issues, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that ASEAN needs to make efforts to strengthen solidarity, maintain and strengthen its common stance on the East Sea. The Prime Minister affirmed that this is both a shared benefit and responsibility of all member states. ASEAN needs to ask its partners to respect this stance when operating in the East Sea, especially in accordance with self-restraint, peaceful resolution of disputes, international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. to respect principles; At the same time, continue to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and strive to build a solid, effective code of conduct in the East Sea in accordance with international law and UNCLOS 1982.
Sharing about the situation in Myanmar, the Prime Minister remarked that the efforts of ASEAN and its member countries have recently received positive signals from all parties in Myanmar. Accordingly, the Prime Minister expressed his support to encourage peaceful dialogue between the parties, build trust, enhance common understanding and strengthen more active contact with the aim of achieving an early comprehensive and durable solution to the Myanmar issue . The Prime Minister supports the Presidential Special Envoy to the 2023 ASEAN Chairs Indonesia and Myanmar to promote their role in leading ASEAN to accomplish this task based on the 5-point consensus of ASEAN Leaders.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh confirmed that Vietnam will coordinate closely with Laos, the ASEAN 2024 chair, to continue promoting the goals of ASEAN cooperation.
At the summit, the Prime Ministers and leaders of ASEAN countries agreed to support the Philippines to assume the role of ASEAN Chair 2026.
This morning, September 6, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the countries’ leaders participated in the ASEAN+1 summit with China, Korea and Japan.